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Billen Family History

Billen Surname Meaning

Flemish (mainly Belgian Limburg) and German: metronymic from a short form of the female personal name Sibilla Sibylle (see Sibley) or Amabilia Mabille (see Mabile).

English: variant of Billing.

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


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Billen family from?

You can see how Billen families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Billen family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Billen families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 38 Billen families living in Dorset. This was about 24% of all the recorded Billen's in United Kingdom. Dorset had the highest population of Billen families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Billen 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 Billen ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Farmer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Billen. 34% of Billen men worked as a Farmer and 64% of Billen women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Billen were Carpenter and Household Duties.

View Census Data for Billen | 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

  • Farmer
    34%
  • Dairy Farmer
    23%
  • Mason (retired)
    23%
  • Carpenter
    23%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    64%
  • Housewife
    10%
  • Housekeeper
    7%
  • Household Duties
    7%

What Billen family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 4,000 census records available for the last name Billen. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Billen census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Billen

Passenger Lists

There are 501 immigration records available for the last name Billen. 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 Billen immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 402 military records available for the last name Billen. For the veterans among your Billen ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Billen military records

You've only scratched the surface of Billen family history

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What is the average Billen lifespan?

Between 1961 and 2004, in the United States, Billen life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1961, and highest in 1984. The average life expectancy for Billen in 1961 was 51, and 70 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Billen

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Billen 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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