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Nelm Family History

Nelm Surname Meaning

Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland.


Similar surnames: Helm, Nell, Elm, Kelm, Nelms, Bell, Palm, Neve, Holm, Ness

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Nelm family from?

You can see how Nelm families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Nelm family name was found in the USA between 1840 and 1920. The most Nelm families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there was 1 Nelm family living in South Carolina. This was about 50% of all the recorded Nelm's in USA. South Carolina and 1 other state had the highest population of Nelm families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Nelm surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
  • 1840
  • 1880
  • 1920
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What did your Nelm ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer was the top reported job for people in the USA named Nelm. 43% of Nelm men worked as a Laborer.

View Census Data for Nelm | 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
    43%
  • Farming
    29%
  • Farmer
    29%

What Nelm family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 385 census records available for the last name Nelm. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Nelm census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Nelm

Passenger Lists

There are 56 immigration records available for the last name Nelm. 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 Nelm immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 24 military records available for the last name Nelm. For the veterans among your Nelm ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Nelm military records

You've only scratched the surface of Nelm family history

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What is the average Nelm lifespan?

Between 1958 and 1966, in the United States, Nelm life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1958, and highest in 1966. The average life expectancy for Nelm in 1958 was 53, and 76 in 1966.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Nelm

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Nelm 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 Nelm family tree

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