History of your Surname
Get access to Salminen family records.Start a free trial

Salminen Family History

Salminen Name Meaning

Finnish: ornamental name from salmi ‘strait’ (compare Salmi ) + the surname suffix -nen. Adopted in the late 19th century primarily by Finns without surnames in southwestern and central Finland (compare Virtanen ) and also in the early 20th century name-changing campaigns.

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


Similar surnames: Saarinen, Salonen, Makinen, Lampinen, Laitinen, Jarvinen, Hanninen

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Salminen family from?

You can see how Salminen families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Salminen family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1891 and 1920. The most Salminen families were found in USA in 1920. In 1920 there were 19 Salminen families living in Minnesota. This was about 21% of all the recorded Salminen's in USA. Minnesota had the highest population of Salminen families in 1920.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Salminen surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Salminen ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Maid were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Salminen. 31% of Salminen men worked as a Laborer and 20% of Salminen women worked as a Maid. Some less common occupations for Americans named Salminen were New Worker and Housework. .

View Census Data for Salminen | 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
    31%
  • Farmer
    15%
  • Carpenter
    12%
  • New Worker
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Maid
    20%
  • Stenographer
    20%
  • Cook
    16%
  • Housework
    16%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Salminen family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search US census records for Salminen

Passenger Lists

There are 3,000 immigration records available for the last name Salminen. 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 Salminen immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 463 military records available for the last name Salminen. For the veterans among your Salminen ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Salminen military records

You've only scratched the surface of Salminen family history

Discover More

What is the average Salminen lifespan?

Between 1943 and 2004, in the United States, Salminen life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1943, and highest in 1999. The average life expectancy for Salminen in 1943 was 38, and 74 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Salminen

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Salminen family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Salminen last name

Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial