History of your Surname
Get access to Kelson family records.Start a free trial

Kelson Family History

Kelson Name Meaning

English: habitational name from Kelston (Somerset) derived from an Old English personal name Calf (genitive Calfes) or from Old English calf ‘calf’ (genitive calfes) + tūn ‘farmstead estate’. Alternatively perhaps sometimes a habitational name from Kelstern (Lincolnshire) derived from the Old English personal name Cægel + Old English thorn ‘thorn tree’. Americanized form of Norwegian and Danish Kjeldsen . Jewish (eastern Ashkenazic): metronymic from the Yiddish female personal name Keyle of uncertain origin.

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


Similar surnames: Belson, Melson, Elson, Nelson, Benson, Person, Askelson, Okeson

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Kelson family from?

You can see how Kelson families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Kelson family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Kelson families were found in USA in 1920. In 1911 there were 20 Kelson families living in Ontario. This was about 27% of all the recorded Kelson's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Kelson families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Kelson surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Kelson ancestors do for a living?

In 1921, Farmer and Teacher were the top reported jobs for men and women in the Canada named Kelson. 56% of Kelson men worked as a Farmer and 50% of Kelson women worked as a Teacher. Some less common occupations for Americans named Kelson were Salesman and Stenographer. .

View Census Data for Kelson | 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.

Top Male Occupations In 1921

  • Farmer
    56%
  • Laborer
    23%
  • Salesman
    23%

Top Female Occupations In 1921

  • Teacher
    50%
  • Stenographer
    50%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Kelson family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 20,000 census records available for the last name Kelson. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Kelson census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Kelson

Passenger Lists

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

Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Kelson. For the veterans among your Kelson ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Kelson military records

You've only scratched the surface of Kelson family history

Discover More

What is the average Kelson lifespan?

Between 1944 and 2004, in the United States, Kelson life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 1998. The average life expectancy for Kelson in 1944 was 29, and 72 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Kelson

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Kelson family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Kelson last name

Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial