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Kelvin Family History

Kelvin Name Meaning

Scottish (Glasgow): perhaps a variant of Kelvey a shortened form of McKelvey . Alternatively it may be a shortened form of McKelvin for which there is little historical evidence. There is no known connection with the River Kelvin or with the modern settlement of Kelvinside in Glasgow.

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


Similar surnames: Kervin, Melvin, Kevin, Belvin, Elvin, Gelvin, Melin, Kelman, Levin

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Kelvin family from?

You can see how Kelvin families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Kelvin family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Kelvin families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1840 there was 1 Kelvin family living in Ohio. This was 100% of all the recorded Kelvin's in USA. Ohio had the highest population of Kelvin families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Kelvin surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Kelvin ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer was the top reported job for people in the USA named Kelvin. 43% of Kelvin men worked as a Laborer. .

View Census Data for Kelvin | 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
    43%
  • Proprietor
    29%
  • Inspector
    29%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Kelvin family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1,000 census records available for the last name Kelvin. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Kelvin census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Kelvin

Passenger Lists

There are 483 immigration records available for the last name Kelvin. 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 Kelvin immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 158 military records available for the last name Kelvin. For the veterans among your Kelvin ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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What is the average Kelvin lifespan?

Between 1969 and 2003, in the United States, Kelvin life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1999, and highest in 1997. The average life expectancy for Kelvin in 1969 was 68, and 65 in 2003.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Kelvin

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