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Pels Family History

Pels Surname Meaning

Dutch Flemish and North German: metonymic occupational name for a furrier from Middle Dutch Middle Low German pels ‘fur’.

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


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Where is the Pels family from?

You can see how Pels families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Pels family name was found in the USA, and Canada between 1840 and 1920. The most Pels families were found in USA in 1920. In 1911 there were 6 Pels families living in Ontario. This was 100% of all the recorded Pels's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Pels families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Pels 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 Pels ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Salesman and Saleslady were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Pels. 22% of Pels men worked as a Salesman and 25% of Pels women worked as a Saleslady. Some less common occupations for Americans named Pels were Clerk and Secretary.

View Census Data for Pels | 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

  • Salesman
    22%
  • Farmer
    18%
  • Machinist
    11%
  • Clerk
    11%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Saleslady
    25%
  • Teacher
    25%
  • Stenographer
    17%
  • Secretary
    17%

What Pels family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 2,000 census records available for the last name Pels. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Pels census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Pels

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Pels. 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 Pels immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 726 military records available for the last name Pels. For the veterans among your Pels ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Pels military records

You've only scratched the surface of Pels family history

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What is the average Pels lifespan?

Between 1963 and 2004, in the United States, Pels life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1970, and highest in 1986. The average life expectancy for Pels in 1963 was 67, and 78 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Pels

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Pels 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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