History of your Surname
Get access to Killens family records.Start a free trial

Killens Family History

Killens Name Meaning

Scottish English and Irish: variant of Killen with English post-medieval excrescent -s. This surname is rare in Britain. Flemish: genitivized patronymic from a short form of the personal name Kilian (compare Kill ) or a habitational name for someone from Ter Killen in East Flanders. This surname is rare in Belgium.

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


Similar surnames: Killips, Cullens, Hillen, Millen, Skillen, Illes, Mullens, Gillen

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Killens family from?

You can see how Killens families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Killens family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1851 and 1920. The most Killens families were found in USA in 1920. In 1911 there were 13 Killens families living in Ontario. This was about 45% of all the recorded Killens's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Killens families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Killens surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Killens ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Maid were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Killens. 39% of Killens men worked as a Laborer and 100% of Killens women worked as a Maid. .

View Census Data for Killens | 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, Canada data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    39%
  • Farmer
    27%
  • Clerk
    12%
  • Farm Laborer
    8%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Maid
    100%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Killens family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search Canadian census records for Killens

Passenger Lists

There are 144 immigration records available for the last name Killens. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Killens immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 432 military records available for the last name Killens. For the veterans among your Killens ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Killens military records

You've only scratched the surface of Killens family history

Discover More

What is the average Killens lifespan?

Between 1951 and 2004, in the United States, Killens life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1951, and highest in 1997. The average life expectancy for Killens in 1951 was 43, and 82 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Killens

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Killens family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Killens last name

Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial