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Smelser Family History

Smelser Surname Meaning

Americanized form of German Schmelzer.

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 Smelser family from?

You can see how Smelser families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Smelser family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Smelser families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 5 Smelser families living in Essex. This was about 50% of all the recorded Smelser's in United Kingdom. Essex had the highest population of Smelser families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Smelser 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 Smelser ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Housewife were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Smelser. 29% of Smelser men worked as a Farmer and 15% of Smelser women worked as a Housewife. Some less common occupations for Americans named Smelser were Salesman and Stenographer.

View Census Data for Smelser | 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

  • Farmer
    29%
  • Laborer
    14%
  • Clerk
    6%
  • Salesman
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housewife
    15%
  • Housekeeper
    13%
  • Teacher
    13%
  • Stenographer
    10%

What Smelser family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 11,000 census records available for the last name Smelser. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Smelser census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Smelser

Passenger Lists

There are 533 immigration records available for the last name Smelser. 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 Smelser immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 2,000 military records available for the last name Smelser. For the veterans among your Smelser ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Smelser military records

You've only scratched the surface of Smelser family history

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What is the average Smelser lifespan?

Between 1942 and 2004, in the United States, Smelser life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1951, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Smelser in 1942 was 30, and 80 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Smelser

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Smelser 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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