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Gillen Family History

Gillen Name Meaning

Irish: variant spelling of Gillan or reduced form of McGillen. Dutch: patronymic from Gil, a personal name that is a much reduced and altered vernacular form of Latin Aegidius (see Giles). German: variant of Gilbert. See also Gille 2.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names ©2013, Oxford University Press


Similar surnames: Dillen, Gilles, Hillen, Millen, Gille, Billen, Giller, Gillet, Gallen

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 Gillen family from?

You can see how Gillen families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Gillen family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Gillen families were found in the USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 26 Gillen families living in New York. This was about 31% of all the recorded Gillen's in the USA. New York had the highest population of Gillen families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Gillen surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
  • 1840
  • 1880
  • 1920
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What did your Gillen ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Teacher were the top reported jobs for men and women in the US named Gillen. 16% of Gillen men worked as a Laborer and 8% of Gillen women worked as a Teacher. Some less common occupations for Americans named Gillen were Clerk and Housewife.

View Census data for Gillen | 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
    16%
  • Farmer
    9%
  • Salesman
    6%
  • Clerk
    5%

Top Female Occupations in 1940

  • Teacher
    8%
  • Clerk
    8%
  • Stenographer
    7%
  • Housewife
    7%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Gillen family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 53,000 census records available for the last name Gillen. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Gillen census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Gillen

Passenger Lists

There are 9,000 immigration records available for the last name Gillen. 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 Gillen immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 11,000 military records available for the last name Gillen. For the veterans among your Gillen ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Gillen military records

You've only scratched the surface of Gillen family history.

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What is the average Gillen lifespan?

Between 1943 and 2004, in the United States, Gillen life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1943, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Gillen in 1943 was 33, and 78 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Gillen

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