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Zelek Family History

Zelek Surname Meaning

Polish:: (Żelek): from a pet form of the Polish personal names Żelisław or Żelistryj with the first element derived from Old Slavic želěti ‘to desire to wish’.

It is also an occupational name from Polish dialect zelek ‘rag-and-bone man’.

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


Similar surnames: 

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Where is the Zelek family from?

You can see how Zelek families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Zelek family name was found in the USA, and Canada between 1911 and 1920. The most Zelek families were found in USA in 1920. In 1920 there were 8 Zelek families living in Illinois. This was about 20% of all the recorded Zelek's in USA. Illinois and 1 other state had the highest population of Zelek families in 1920.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Zelek 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 Zelek ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Maid were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Zelek. 57% of Zelek men worked as a Laborer and 25% of Zelek women worked as a Maid. Some less common occupations for Americans named Zelek were Inspector and Waitress.

View Census Data for Zelek | 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
    57%
  • Salesman
    9%
  • Tailor
    9%
  • Inspector
    9%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Maid
    25%
  • Housekeeper
    25%
  • Presser
    25%
  • Waitress
    25%

What Zelek family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 727 census records available for the last name Zelek. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Zelek census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Zelek

Passenger Lists

There are 319 immigration records available for the last name Zelek. 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 Zelek immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 274 military records available for the last name Zelek. For the veterans among your Zelek ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Zelek military records

You've only scratched the surface of Zelek family history

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What is the average Zelek lifespan?

Between 1963 and 2004, in the United States, Zelek life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1982, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Zelek in 1963 was 71, and 90 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Zelek

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Zelek 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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