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Zele Family History

Zele 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: Mele, Zelek, Zelle, Zewe, Zale, Zell, Zelt, Zee, Bell, Mule

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Zele family from?

You can see how Zele families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Zele family name was found in the USA between 1880 and 1920. The most Zele families were found in USA in 1920. In 1880 there were 4 Zele families living in Pennsylvania. This was about 80% of all the recorded Zele's in USA. Pennsylvania had the highest population of Zele families in 1880.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Zele 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 Zele ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Miner and Seamstress were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Zele. 27% of Zele men worked as a Miner and 100% of Zele women worked as a Seamstress.

View Census Data for Zele | 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

  • Miner
    27%
  • Laborer
    22%
  • New Worker
    14%
  • Salesman
    14%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Seamstress
    100%

What Zele family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search UK census records for Zele

Passenger Lists

There are 465 immigration records available for the last name Zele. 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 Zele immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 303 military records available for the last name Zele. For the veterans among your Zele ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Zele military records

You've only scratched the surface of Zele family history

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What is the average Zele lifespan?

Between 1964 and 2003, in the United States, Zele life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1976, and highest in 1995. The average life expectancy for Zele in 1964 was 59, and 77 in 2003.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Zele

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

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