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Jelks Family History

Jelks Surname Meaning

English (Middlesex and Kent): from the Middle English personal name Gilke Gelke a shortened form of Gilkin with genitival or post-medieval excrescent -s.

Gilkin was a pet form of either the common female name Gillian or the less common male name Giles (see Gillian 1 Giles).

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


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Where is the Jelks family from?

You can see how Jelks families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Jelks family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Jelks families were found in USA in 1880. In 1911 there was 1 Jelks family living in British Columbia. This was about 33% of all the recorded Jelks's in Canada. British Columbia and 2 other provinces had the highest population of Jelks families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Jelks 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 Jelks ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Teacher were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Jelks. 36% of Jelks men worked as a Laborer and 22% of Jelks women worked as a Teacher. Some less common occupations for Americans named Jelks were Salesman and Laundress.

View Census Data for Jelks | 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
    36%
  • Farmer
    30%
  • Farm Laborer
    10%
  • Salesman
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Teacher
    22%
  • Farm Laborer
    18%
  • Maid
    18%
  • Laundress
    18%

What Jelks family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 5,000 census records available for the last name Jelks. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Jelks census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Jelks

Passenger Lists

There are 391 immigration records available for the last name Jelks. 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 Jelks immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Jelks. For the veterans among your Jelks ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Jelks military records

You've only scratched the surface of Jelks family history

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What is the average Jelks lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Jelks life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1975, and highest in 1982. The average life expectancy for Jelks in 1940 was 58, and 71 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Jelks

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Jelks 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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