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Thelman Family History

Thelman 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: Helman, Shelman, Thalman, Thielman, Thurman, Selman, Kelman, Hetman

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Thelman family from?

You can see how Thelman families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Thelman family name was found in the USA, Canada, and Scotland between 1841 and 1920. The most Thelman families were found in Canada in 1911. In 1911 there were 7 Thelman families living in Manitoba. This was about 30% of all the recorded Thelman's in Canada. Manitoba had the highest population of Thelman families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Thelman 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 Thelman ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Manager were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Thelman. 36% of Thelman men worked as a Farmer and 34% of Thelman women worked as a Manager. Some less common occupations for Americans named Thelman were Mechanic and Clerk.

View Census Data for Thelman | 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
    24%
  • Truck Driver
    12%
  • Mechanic
    12%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Manager
    34%
  • Maid
    34%
  • Clerk
    34%

What Thelman family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 654 census records available for the last name Thelman. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Thelman census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Thelman

Passenger Lists

There are 126 immigration records available for the last name Thelman. 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 Thelman immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 73 military records available for the last name Thelman. For the veterans among your Thelman ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Thelman military records

You've only scratched the surface of Thelman family history

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What is the average Thelman lifespan?

Between 1965 and 2002, in the United States, Thelman life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1965, and highest in 1989. The average life expectancy for Thelman in 1965 was 61, and 70 in 2002.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Thelman

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Thelman 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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