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Kilpela Family History

Kilpela Surname Meaning

Finnish (Kilpelä): habitational name from farms so named from kilpi ‘shield’ also ‘water lily especially lily pad’ (the last sense is used particularly in the names of ponds and lakes and the names of dwellings near them).

Established as a hereditary surname in northern Finland where kilpi has the sense ‘the wide part of the elk or reindeer horn’ and in western Finland.

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


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Where is the Kilpela family from?

You can see how Kilpela families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Kilpela family name was found in the USA in 1920. In 1920 there were 9 Kilpela families living in Michigan. This was about 47% of all the recorded Kilpela's in USA. Michigan had the highest population of Kilpela families in 1920.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Kilpela 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 Kilpela ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Stenographer were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Kilpela. 44% of Kilpela men worked as a Laborer and 50% of Kilpela women worked as a Stenographer. Some less common occupations for Americans named Kilpela were Foreman and Laborer.

View Census Data for Kilpela | 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
    44%
  • Miner
    19%
  • Bus Driver
    13%
  • Foreman
    13%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Stenographer
    50%
  • Laborer
    50%

What Kilpela family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 434 census records available for the last name Kilpela. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Kilpela census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Kilpela

Passenger Lists

There are 115 immigration records available for the last name Kilpela. 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 Kilpela immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 142 military records available for the last name Kilpela. For the veterans among your Kilpela ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Kilpela military records

You've only scratched the surface of Kilpela family history

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What is the average Kilpela lifespan?

Between 1962 and 2004, in the United States, Kilpela life expectancy was at its lowest point in 2004, and highest in 1973. The average life expectancy for Kilpela in 1962 was 62, and 48 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Kilpela

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Kilpela 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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