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Bellew Family History

Bellew Name Meaning

English Irish and Scottish (of Norman origin): habitational name from a lost or unidentified estate in or near Normandy named with Old French bel + eau ‘beautiful water’ as is clear from the Anglo-Norman French and Middle English surname spelling de Belewe and its Latin rendering as de Bella Aqua. The source of the surname is often stated to be Bellou (Orne) but this is improbable as its etymological form Be(r)lou requires a different etymology than bella aqua. Nor is the surname from Belleau in Lincolnshire; this is post-medieval re-formation of the medieval placename Helgelo (Old Norse ‘Helgi's glade or meadow’). Variant or Americanized form of Ballou a surname of probable French origin. Compare Ballew 1 Balliew Belew 1 Belue and Billue .

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


Similar surnames: Belle, Beller, Bullen, Zeller, Kellow, Belles, Sellen, Helle, Balle

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Where is the Bellew family from?

You can see how Bellew families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Bellew family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Bellew families were found in USA in 1880. In 1911 there were 12 Bellew families living in New Brunswick. This was about 50% of all the recorded Bellew's in Canada. New Brunswick had the highest population of Bellew families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Bellew 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 Bellew ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Stenographer were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Bellew. 20% of Bellew men worked as a Farmer and 13% of Bellew women worked as a Stenographer. Some less common occupations for Americans named Bellew were Clerk and Typist. .

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*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
    20%
  • Laborer
    16%
  • Truck Driver
    9%
  • Clerk
    7%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Stenographer
    13%
  • Teacher
    11%
  • Clerk
    11%
  • Typist
    9%
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What Bellew family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 14,000 census records available for the last name Bellew. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Bellew census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Bellew

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Bellew. 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 Bellew immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 2,000 military records available for the last name Bellew. For the veterans among your Bellew ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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What is the average Bellew lifespan?

Between 1943 and 2004, in the United States, Bellew life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1961, and highest in 1998. The average life expectancy for Bellew in 1943 was 48, and 76 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Bellew

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