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Ellison Family History

Ellison Surname Meaning

English: from the Middle English personal name Ellis (Old Testament Elijah) + -son. In the US this surname (in any of the three possible senses; see also 2 and 3 below) is also established among African Americans. English: from the Middle English Old French female personal name Elissent Elisant ancient Germanic Elisind. Scottish: sometimes a post-medieval variant of Allison which is mainly concentrated in northern England and southwestern Scotland. There is a similar Scottish variation between Alison and Elison as female personal names. Americanized form of some original Jewish (Ashkenazic) surname (most likely based on Yiddish form of the Biblical personal name Elijah).

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


Similar surnames: Allison, Elliston, Elison, Jellison, Ellickson, Kellison, Elkin

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Ellison family from?

You can see how Ellison families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Ellison family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Ellison families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 71 Ellison families living in New York. This was about 17% of all the recorded Ellison's in USA. New York had the highest population of Ellison families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Ellison surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
  • 1840
  • 1880
  • 1920
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What did your Ellison ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Maid were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Ellison. 18% of Ellison men worked as a Laborer and 10% of Ellison women worked as a Maid. Some less common occupations for Americans named Ellison were Truck Driver and Housekeeper. .

View Census Data for Ellison | 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 1940

  • Laborer
    18%
  • Farmer
    18%
  • Salesman
    5%
  • Truck Driver
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Maid
    10%
  • Cook
    7%
  • Teacher
    6%
  • Housekeeper
    6%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Ellison family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 255,000 census records available for the last name Ellison. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Ellison census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Ellison

Passenger Lists

There are 23,000 immigration records available for the last name Ellison. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

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Draft Cards

There are 38,000 military records available for the last name Ellison. For the veterans among your Ellison ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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What is the average Ellison lifespan?

Between 1941 and 2004, in the United States, Ellison life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1945, and highest in 2002. The average life expectancy for Ellison in 1941 was 33, and 72 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Ellison

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