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Shirlen Family History

Shirlen 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: Shirley, Shippen, Hillen, Shipley, Shire, Shirey, Siren, Sherley

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 Shirlen family from?

You can see how Shirlen families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Shirlen family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1851 and 1920. The most Shirlen families were found in USA in 1920. In 1880 there were 2 Shirlen families living in Maryland. This was 100% of all the recorded Shirlen's in USA. Maryland had the highest population of Shirlen families in 1880.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Shirlen surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Shirlen ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Laborer were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Shirlen. 42% of Shirlen men worked as a Laborer and 60% of Shirlen women worked as a Laborer. Some less common occupations for Americans named Shirlen were Farmer and Housekeeper. .

View Census Data for Shirlen | 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
    42%
  • Manager
    25%
  • Mechanic
    17%
  • Farmer
    17%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    60%
  • Housekeeper
    40%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Shirlen family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 669 census records available for the last name Shirlen. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Shirlen census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Shirlen

Passenger Lists

There are 40 immigration records available for the last name Shirlen. 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 Shirlen immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 95 military records available for the last name Shirlen. For the veterans among your Shirlen ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Shirlen military records

You've only scratched the surface of Shirlen family history

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What is the average Shirlen lifespan?

Between 1967 and 2004, in the United States, Shirlen life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1974, and highest in 1982. The average life expectancy for Shirlen in 1967 was 80, and 65 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Shirlen

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Shirlen family tree

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