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Gelford Family History

Gelford Name Meaning

Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland.


Similar surnames: Galford, Telford, Welford, Elford, Gepford, Belford, Gelfond, Gilford

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 Gelford family from?

You can see how Gelford families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Gelford family name was found in the USA, Canada, and Scotland between 1861 and 1920. The most Gelford families were found in Canada in 1911. In 1880 there were 3 Gelford families living in New York. This was 100% of all the recorded Gelford's in USA. New York had the highest population of Gelford families in 1880.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Gelford 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 Gelford ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Salesman and Stenographer were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Gelford. 23% of Gelford men worked as a Salesman and 38% of Gelford women worked as a Stenographer. Some less common occupations for Americans named Gelford were Laborer and Secretary. .

View Census Data for Gelford | 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

  • Salesman
    23%
  • Proprietor
    15%
  • Carpenter
    12%
  • Laborer
    12%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Stenographer
    38%
  • Housewife
    38%
  • Secretary
    25%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Gelford family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 713 census records available for the last name Gelford. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Gelford census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Gelford

Passenger Lists

There are 202 immigration records available for the last name Gelford. 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 Gelford immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 43 military records available for the last name Gelford. For the veterans among your Gelford ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Gelford military records

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What is the average Gelford lifespan?

Between 1964 and 2002, in the United States, Gelford life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1991, and highest in 1976. The average life expectancy for Gelford in 1964 was 82, and 81 in 2002.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Gelford

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