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Smelson Family History

Smelson 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: Melson, Samelson, Snelson, Elson, Sheldon, Nelson, Melton, Stenson

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Smelson family from?

You can see how Smelson families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Smelson family name was found in the USA between 1880 and 1920. The most Smelson families were found in USA in 1880. In 1880 there were 11 Smelson families living in Arkansas. This was about 30% of all the recorded Smelson's in USA. Arkansas had the highest population of Smelson families in 1880.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Smelson 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 Smelson ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer was the top reported job for people in the USA named Smelson. 34% of Smelson men worked as a Farmer.

View Census Data for Smelson | 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
    34%
  • Painter
    34%
  • Helper
    34%

What Smelson family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 428 census records available for the last name Smelson. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Smelson census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Smelson

Passenger Lists

There are 46 immigration records available for the last name Smelson. 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 Smelson immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 87 military records available for the last name Smelson. For the veterans among your Smelson ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Smelson military records

You've only scratched the surface of Smelson family history

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What is the average Smelson lifespan?

Between 1965 and 2002, in the United States, Smelson life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1993, and highest in 2001. The average life expectancy for Smelson in 1965 was 59, and 50 in 2002.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Smelson

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

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