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Wela Family History

Wela 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: Vela, Welz, Well, Welt, Weld, Welp, Welk, Wels, Ela, Bell

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Wela family from?

You can see how Wela families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Wela family name was found in the USA, and Canada between 1880 and 1920. The most Wela families were found in USA in 1920. In 1880 there were 6 Wela families living in Kansas. This was about 55% of all the recorded Wela's in USA. Kansas had the highest population of Wela families in 1880.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Wela 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 Wela ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Stenographer were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Wela. 60% of Wela men worked as a Laborer and 60% of Wela women worked as a Stenographer. Some less common occupations for Americans named Wela were Farmer and Secretary.

View Census Data for Wela | 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
    60%
  • Farmer
    40%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Stenographer
    60%
  • Secretary
    40%

What Wela family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 443 census records available for the last name Wela. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Wela census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Wela

Passenger Lists

There are 96 immigration records available for the last name Wela. 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 Wela immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 61 military records available for the last name Wela. For the veterans among your Wela ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Wela military records

You've only scratched the surface of Wela family history

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What is the average Wela lifespan?

Between 1974 and 1994, in the United States, Wela life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1976, and highest in 1993. The average life expectancy for Wela in 1974 was 63, and 65 in 1994.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Wela

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Wela 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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