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

Salem Family History

Salem Name Meaning

Muslim and Jewish (Sephardic): variant of Salim 2 and occasionally also of Salim

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


Similar surnames: Salim, Sales, Saleh, Sale, Salm, Sole, Salaam, Salek, Solem, Palm

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 Salem family from?

You can see how Salem families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Salem family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Salem families were found in USA in 1920. In 1911 there were 16 Salem families living in Ontario. This was about 89% of all the recorded Salem's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Salem families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Salem surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Salem ancestors do for a living?

In 1921, Merchant was the top reported job for people in the Canada named Salem. 100% of Salem men worked as a Merchant. .

View Census Data for Salem | 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 1921

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

What Salem family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 9,000 census records available for the last name Salem. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Salem census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Salem

Passenger Lists

There are 5,000 immigration records available for the last name Salem. 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 Salem immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 11,000 military records available for the last name Salem. For the veterans among your Salem ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Salem military records

You've only scratched the surface of Salem family history

Discover More

What is the average Salem lifespan?

Between 1953 and 2004, in the United States, Salem life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1953, and highest in 2000. The average life expectancy for Salem in 1953 was 35, and 66 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Salem

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Salem family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Salem last name

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