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Swisshelm Family History

Swisshelm Surname Meaning

Americanized form of German Schweisshelm literally ‘sweat helmet’ but a wrongly standardized form of the ancient Germanic personal name Schwethelm.

It is derived from swinth and swīd meaning ‘strong fast’.

The term encompasses elements that speak to strength and protection, reminiscent of the warrior culture of ancient Germanic tribes.

Over time, this name may have evolved in its usage and meaning among American English speakers.

Today, it reflects a blend of linguistic history and cultural adaptation in the United States.

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 Swisshelm family from?

You can see how Swisshelm families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Swisshelm family name was found in the USA, and the UK between 1840 and 1920. The most Swisshelm families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 8 Swisshelm families living in London. This was 100% of all the recorded Swisshelm's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Swisshelm families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Swisshelm 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 Swisshelm ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Clerk were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Swisshelm. 25% of Swisshelm men worked as a Farmer and 40% of Swisshelm women worked as a Clerk. Some less common occupations for Americans named Swisshelm were Clerk and Teacher.

View Census Data for Swisshelm | 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
    25%
  • Laborer
    21%
  • Salesman
    17%
  • Clerk
    13%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Clerk
    40%
  • Beautician
    20%
  • Housekeeper
    20%
  • Teacher
    20%

What Swisshelm family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1,000 census records available for the last name Swisshelm. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Swisshelm census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Swisshelm

Passenger Lists

There are 50 immigration records available for the last name Swisshelm. 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 Swisshelm immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 297 military records available for the last name Swisshelm. For the veterans among your Swisshelm ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Swisshelm military records

You've only scratched the surface of Swisshelm family history

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What is the average Swisshelm lifespan?

Between 1951 and 2004, in the United States, Swisshelm life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1954, and highest in 1999. The average life expectancy for Swisshelm in 1951 was 51, and 64 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Swisshelm

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Swisshelm 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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