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Ellen Family History

Ellen Surname Meaning

English: from the Middle English female personal name Elen Elin Helen (Old French Helene from Latin Helena Greek Helenē related to helanē ‘torch’ and helē ‘brightness of the sun’). The popularity of this as a personal name is due largely to Saint Helena mother of the Emperor Constantine who was influential as a Christian proselytizer in Byzantium. Medieval English legend asserted almost certainly wrongly that she was of British origin. English (of Norman origin): variant of Hellen . English: topographic name for someone who lived by or among elder-trees from Middle English ellen (Old English elle(r)n). Dutch and North German: patronymic from the personal name El(le) probably a shortened form of an ancient Germanic name with the element adal ‘noble’.

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

Similar surnames: Elsen, Allen, Hillen, Hellen, Eller, Ellena, Elbe, Elton, Sellen

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Where is the Ellen family from?

You can see how Ellen families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Ellen family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Ellen families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1840 there were 7 Ellen families living in North Carolina. This was about 39% of all the recorded Ellen's in USA. North Carolina had the highest population of Ellen families in 1840.

Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Ellen surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

View Census Data for Ellen

What did your Ellen ancestors do for a living?

View Census Data for Ellen | Data not to scale

Top Male Occupations In 1940

Laborer
18%
Farmer
16%
Salesman
5%
Clerk
4%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

Teacher
12%
Maid
11%
Housekeeper
9%
Stenographer
8%

Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Ellen family records will you find?

Census Records
There are 57,000 census records available for the last name Ellen. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Ellen census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.
Search US census records for Ellen
Passenger Lists
There are 7,000 immigration records available for the last name Ellen. 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.
View all Ellen immigration records
Draft Cards
There are 3,000 military records available for the last name Ellen. For the veterans among your Ellen ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.
View all Ellen military records

Census Records

There are 57,000 census records available for the last name Ellen. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Ellen census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Ellen

Passenger Lists

There are 7,000 immigration records available for the last name Ellen. 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.

View all Ellen immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 3,000 military records available for the last name Ellen. For the veterans among your Ellen ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Ellen military records

You've only scratched the surface of Ellen family history

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What is the average Ellen lifespan?

Between 1963 and 2004, in the United States, Ellen life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1972, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Ellen in 1963 was 72, and 90 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Ellen

Browse profiles of historical people with the Ellen last name