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Zelma Family History

Zelma 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: Zema, Zelman, Zella, Helm, Vela, Melia, Selman, Kelman, Belka, Pella

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Zelma family from?

You can see how Zelma families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Zelma family name was found in the USA, and Canada between 1880 and 1920. The most Zelma families were found in USA in 1880. In 1911 there was 1 Zelma family living in British Columbia. This was 100% of all the recorded Zelma's in Canada. British Columbia had the highest population of Zelma families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Zelma 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 Zelma ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Janitor was the top reported job for people in the USA named Zelma. 50% of Zelma men worked as a Janitor.

View Census Data for Zelma | 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

  • Janitor
    50%
  • Laborer
    50%

What Zelma family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 588 census records available for the last name Zelma. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Zelma census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Zelma

Passenger Lists

There are 202 immigration records available for the last name Zelma. 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 Zelma immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 51 military records available for the last name Zelma. For the veterans among your Zelma ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Zelma military records

You've only scratched the surface of Zelma family history

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What is the average Zelma lifespan?

Between 1966 and 2002, in the United States, Zelma life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1966, and highest in 1995. The average life expectancy for Zelma in 1966 was 55, and 79 in 2002.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Zelma

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Zelma 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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