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Colsen Family History

Colsen 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: Olsen, Colden, Dolsen, Holsen, Colen, Colson, Collen, Colten, Nolen

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Colsen family from?

You can see how Colsen families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Colsen family name was found in the USA, Canada, and Scotland between 1851 and 1920. The most Colsen families were found in USA in 1880. In 1911 there were 18 Colsen families living in Ontario. This was about 95% of all the recorded Colsen's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Colsen families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Colsen 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 Colsen ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Clerk were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Colsen. 30% of Colsen men worked as a Laborer and 34% of Colsen women worked as a Clerk. Some less common occupations for Americans named Colsen were Carpenter and Housewife.

View Census Data for Colsen | 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
    30%
  • Clerk
    30%
  • Proprietor
    20%
  • Carpenter
    20%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Clerk
    34%
  • Housework
    34%
  • Housewife
    34%

What Colsen family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search Canadian census records for Colsen

Passenger Lists

There are 399 immigration records available for the last name Colsen. 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 Colsen immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 178 military records available for the last name Colsen. For the veterans among your Colsen ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Colsen military records

You've only scratched the surface of Colsen family history

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What is the average Colsen lifespan?

Between 1966 and 2003, in the United States, Colsen life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1968, and highest in 1995. The average life expectancy for Colsen in 1966 was 82, and 75 in 2003.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Colsen

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Colsen 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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