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Gelvin Family History

Gelvin Surname Meaning

Probably Irish: variant of Galvin.

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


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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Gelvin family from?

You can see how Gelvin families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Gelvin family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Gelvin families were found in USA in 1880. In 1911 there were 4 Gelvin families living in Ontario. This was about 67% of all the recorded Gelvin's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Gelvin families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Gelvin 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 Gelvin ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Stenographer were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Gelvin. 36% of Gelvin men worked as a Farmer and 34% of Gelvin women worked as a Stenographer. Some less common occupations for Americans named Gelvin were Proprietor and Housework.

View Census Data for Gelvin | 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

  • Farmer
    36%
  • Laborer
    19%
  • Labor
    9%
  • Proprietor
    7%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Stenographer
    34%
  • Housewife
    34%
  • Housework
    34%

What Gelvin family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 3,000 census records available for the last name Gelvin. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Gelvin census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Gelvin

Passenger Lists

There are 250 immigration records available for the last name Gelvin. 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 Gelvin immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 643 military records available for the last name Gelvin. For the veterans among your Gelvin ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Gelvin military records

You've only scratched the surface of Gelvin family history

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What is the average Gelvin lifespan?

Between 1951 and 2004, in the United States, Gelvin life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1972, and highest in 1982. The average life expectancy for Gelvin in 1951 was 43, and 77 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Gelvin

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Gelvin 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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