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Welles Family History

Welles Surname Meaning

English: variant of Wells.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Welles family from?

You can see how Welles families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Welles family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Welles families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 99 Welles families living in London. This was about 29% of all the recorded Welles's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Welles families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Welles 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 Welles ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Lorry Driver and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Welles. 34% of Welles men worked as a Lorry Driver and 93% of Welles women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Welles were Painter and Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Welles | 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.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • Lorry Driver
    34%
  • General Labourer
    34%
  • Painter
    34%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    93%
  • Private Means
    4%
  • Domestic Duties
    4%

What Welles family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 18,000 census records available for the last name Welles. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Welles census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Welles

Passenger Lists

There are 3,000 immigration records available for the last name Welles. 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 Welles immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 4,000 military records available for the last name Welles. For the veterans among your Welles ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Welles military records

You've only scratched the surface of Welles family history

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What is the average Welles lifespan?

Between 1943 and 2004, in the United States, Welles life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1943, and highest in 1965. The average life expectancy for Welles in 1943 was 32, and 76 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Welles

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

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