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Thelma Family History

Thelma 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: Helm, Tella, Thelen, Helman, Trela, Thoma, Thuma, Vielma, Helme

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Thelma family from?

You can see how Thelma families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Thelma family name was found in the USA, and Canada between 1911 and 1920. The most Thelma families were found in USA in 1920. In 1911 there were 8 Thelma families living in Quebec. This was about 44% of all the recorded Thelma's in Canada. Quebec had the highest population of Thelma families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Thelma 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 Thelma ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Housewife were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Thelma. 50% of Thelma men worked as a Laborer and 14% of Thelma women worked as a Housewife. Some less common occupations for Americans named Thelma were Mechanic and Clerk.

View Census Data for Thelma | 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
    50%
  • Farmer
    30%
  • Mechanic
    20%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housewife
    14%
  • Waitress
    14%
  • Housekeeper
    14%
  • Clerk
    14%

What Thelma family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search Canadian census records for Thelma

Passenger Lists

There are 281 immigration records available for the last name Thelma. 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 Thelma immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 59 military records available for the last name Thelma. For the veterans among your Thelma ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Thelma military records

You've only scratched the surface of Thelma family history

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What is the average Thelma lifespan?

Between 1990 and 1999, in the United States, Thelma life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1990, and highest in 1999. The average life expectancy for Thelma in 1990 was 79, and 88 in 1999.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Thelma

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Thelma 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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