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Shelen Family History

Shelen 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: Thelen, Seelen, Shelden, Sheler, Sheen, Sheley, Sheren, Shen, Seeley

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Shelen family from?

You can see how Shelen families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Shelen family name was found in the USA, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Shelen families were found in USA in 1920. In 1871 there was 1 Shelen family living in Kirkcudbrightshire. This was 100% of all the recorded Shelen's in Scotland. Kirkcudbrightshire had the highest population of Shelen families in 1871.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Shelen 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 Shelen ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Student was the top reported job for people in the USA named Shelen. 100% of Shelen men worked as a Student.

View Census Data for Shelen | 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

  • Student
    100%

What Shelen family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 187 census records available for the last name Shelen. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Shelen census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Shelen

Passenger Lists

There are 45 immigration records available for the last name Shelen. 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 Shelen immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 8 military records available for the last name Shelen. For the veterans among your Shelen ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Shelen military records

You've only scratched the surface of Shelen family history

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What is the average Shelen lifespan?

Between 1964 and 1998, in the United States, Shelen life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1964, and highest in 1998. The average life expectancy for Shelen in 1964 was 52, and 84 in 1998.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Shelen

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

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