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Michelson Family History

Michelson Surname Meaning

English (Lincolnshire): patronymic from the Middle English personal name Michel (i.e. Michael see Mitchell) + -son. Compare Michaelson.

Americanized form of North German, Danish, Norwegian, and Dutch Michelsen and of various other Scandinavian and North German cognates (see Michaelson and Mickelson).

Flemish and Dutch: patronymic from the personal name Michel (see Michael). This surname is very rare in Belgium and the Netherlands.

Jewish (Ashkenazic): patronymic from the Yiddish personal name Mikhl (see Michael).

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 Michelson family from?

You can see how Michelson families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Michelson family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1841 and 1920. The most Michelson families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 34 Michelson families living in London. This was about 20% of all the recorded Michelson's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Michelson families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Michelson 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 Michelson ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Michelson. 60% of Michelson men worked as a General Labourer and 60% of Michelson women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Michelson were Farm Labourer and Housewife.

View Census Data for Michelson | 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

  • General Labourer
    60%
  • Farm Labourer
    40%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    60%
  • Private Means
    5%
  • Domestic Servant
    5%
  • Housewife
    5%

What Michelson family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 23,000 census records available for the last name Michelson. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Michelson census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Michelson

Passenger Lists

There are 8,000 immigration records available for the last name Michelson. 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 Michelson immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 3,000 military records available for the last name Michelson. For the veterans among your Michelson ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Michelson military records

You've only scratched the surface of Michelson family history

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What is the average Michelson lifespan?

Between 1941 and 2004, in the United States, Michelson life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1945, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for Michelson in 1941 was 37, and 79 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Michelson

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Michelson 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.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Michelson family tree

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