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Ellefsen Family History

Ellefsen Surname Meaning

Norwegian: patronymic from the personal name Ellef from Old Norse Eilífr.

This name is a compound of ei, which means ‘alone’ or ‘sole’ or ‘always’, and lífr, which means ‘living’ or ‘alive’.

The combination of these elements highlights a unique aspect of existence in the context of Old Norse culture.

Patronymics, such as Ellef, reflect the heritage and lineage in Scandinavian naming traditions.

Understanding these roots provides insight into the linguistic and cultural significance of names in Norwegian history.

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


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Where is the Ellefsen family from?

You can see how Ellefsen families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Ellefsen family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1880 and 1920. The most Ellefsen families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 2 Ellefsen families living in Monmouthshire. This was about 50% of all the recorded Ellefsen's in United Kingdom. Monmouthshire had the highest population of Ellefsen families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Ellefsen surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Ellefsen ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Stenographer were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Ellefsen. 34% of Ellefsen men worked as a Laborer and 100% of Ellefsen women worked as a Stenographer.

View Census Data for Ellefsen | 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.

United States shown, England data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    34%
  • Farmer
    24%
  • Carpenter
    15%
  • Janitor
    10%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Stenographer
    100%

What Ellefsen family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1,000 census records available for the last name Ellefsen. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Ellefsen census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Ellefsen

Passenger Lists

There are 4,000 immigration records available for the last name Ellefsen. 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 Ellefsen immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 320 military records available for the last name Ellefsen. For the veterans among your Ellefsen ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Ellefsen military records

You've only scratched the surface of Ellefsen family history

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What is the average Ellefsen lifespan?

Between 1963 and 2004, in the United States, Ellefsen life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1991, and highest in 2002. The average life expectancy for Ellefsen in 1963 was 71, and 77 in 2004.

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Ellefsen 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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