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Elem Family History

Elem Name Meaning

Altered form of English Elam .

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


Similar surnames: Elam, Elm, Lem, Eley, Klem, Elek, Clem, Lee, Helm, Leo

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 Elem family from?

You can see how Elem families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Elem family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1840 and 1920. The most Elem families were found in USA in 1920. In 1840 there was 1 Elem family living in Maryland. This was about 50% of all the recorded Elem's in USA. Maryland and 1 other state had the highest population of Elem families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Elem surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Elem ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Waitress were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Elem. 29% of Elem men worked as a Laborer and 50% of Elem women worked as a Waitress. Some less common occupations for Americans named Elem were Salesman and Laundress. .

View Census Data for Elem | 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
    29%
  • Farmer
    17%
  • New Worker
    9%
  • Salesman
    7%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Waitress
    50%
  • Laundress
    50%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Elem family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 2,000 census records available for the last name Elem. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Elem census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Elem

Passenger Lists

There are 157 immigration records available for the last name Elem. 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 Elem immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 576 military records available for the last name Elem. For the veterans among your Elem ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Elem military records

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What is the average Elem lifespan?

Between 1954 and 2004, in the United States, Elem life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1983, and highest in 1973. The average life expectancy for Elem in 1954 was 59, and 78 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Elem

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Elem family tree

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