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Zelen Family History

Zelen 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: Jelen, Zelek, Belen, Zeleny, Zeien, Allen, Nolen, Leven, Melin, Eden

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Zelen family from?

You can see how Zelen families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Zelen family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1891 and 1920. The most Zelen families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 6 Zelen families living in Lancashire. This was 100% of all the recorded Zelen's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Zelen families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Zelen 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 Zelen ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Maid were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Zelen. 34% of Zelen men worked as a Laborer and 100% of Zelen women worked as a Maid.

View Census Data for Zelen | 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
    34%
  • Salesman
    17%
  • Cook
    17%
  • Manager
    17%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Maid
    100%

What Zelen family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 617 census records available for the last name Zelen. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Zelen census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Zelen

Passenger Lists

There are 312 immigration records available for the last name Zelen. 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 Zelen immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 59 military records available for the last name Zelen. For the veterans among your Zelen ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Zelen military records

You've only scratched the surface of Zelen family history

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What is the average Zelen lifespan?

Between 1956 and 2003, in the United States, Zelen life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1956, and highest in 1987. The average life expectancy for Zelen in 1956 was 46, and 74 in 2003.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Zelen

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

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