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Salem Family History

Salem Surname Meaning

Muslim and Jewish (Sephardic): variant of Salim 2 and occasionally also of Salim

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Salem family from?

You can see how Salem families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Salem family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Salem families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 15 Salem families living in Cheshire. This was about 68% of all the recorded Salem's in United Kingdom. Cheshire had the highest population of Salem families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Salem surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Salem ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Commission Agent and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Salem. 34% of Salem men worked as a Commission Agent and 81% of Salem women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Salem were Ships Fireman and Bank Clerk.

View Census Data for Salem | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • Commission Agent
    34%
  • Shipping Merchant Textiles
    34%
  • Ships Fireman
    34%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    81%
  • Shorthand Typist
    12%
  • Bank Clerk
    8%

What Salem family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 9,000 census records available for the last name Salem. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Salem census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Salem

Passenger Lists

There are 5,000 immigration records available for the last name Salem. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Salem immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 11,000 military records available for the last name Salem. For the veterans among your Salem ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Salem military records

You've only scratched the surface of Salem family history

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What is the average Salem lifespan?

Between 1953 and 2004, in the United States, Salem life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1953, and highest in 2000. The average life expectancy for Salem in 1953 was 35, and 66 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Salem

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Salem ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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