WN
Willie Nelson — 1940 US Census Record
Model Tree available1940 United States Federal Census · Orleans-County, Louisiana
Our Model Tree links this Willie Nelson across the 1910, 1920, 1930 and 1940 US Censuses in Orleans-County, Louisiana (XGBoost, ~Confirmed), with identified parents James & Nicola — first a head (b.~1904), then head of a 5-person household.
Age 36
b. ~1904
Male
Head
Born: Louisiana
Married
1940 Census Record Details
| Census Year | 1940 |
| Location | Orleans-County, Louisiana |
| Surname | Nelson |
| Given Name | Willie |
| Relationship to Head | Head |
| Sex | M |
| Color / Race | Black |
| Age | 36 |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Birthplace | Louisiana |
| 1935 Residence (City) | New Orleans City |
| 1935 Residence (County) | Orleans |
| Additional Details | |
| Occupation | Truck Driver |
| Industry | Cotton Compress |
| Class of Worker | PW |
| Hours Worked | 45 |
| Income (1939) | 720 |
| Highest Grade | No 5 |
| 1935 Residence | Louisiana |
| Birth State | Louisiana |
| Birth Country | United States |
| Birthplace (normalized) | louisiana |
| Occupation | Truck Driver |
| Township / Ward | New Orleans City |
| Est. Birth Year | ~1904 |
Household Members
Census records only state relationship to the household head.
Pairwise kinship is derived (~90–95% accurate), not recorded.
Step/blended families and boarders can break it.
5 people recorded at the same address in the 1940 census.
| Name | Relation to head | Relative to Willie | Age | Birth yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Willie Nelson | Head | — | 36 | ~1904 |
| Gene Nelson | Daughter | — | 7 | ~1933 |
| Bessie Nelson | Daughter | — | 5 | ~1935 |
| Bessie Nelson | Spouse | — | 34 | ~1906 |
| Willie Nelson | Son | — | 12 | ~1928 |
Census Appearances
1910
Orleans, Louisiana
Son, age 9
Orleans, Louisiana · implied b. ~1901 — 3 household members
●
Primary link
· ~Confirmed · 2 sources
XGBoost
Household
| Surname | Nelson |
| Given Name | William |
| Relationship to Head | Son |
| Sex | M |
| Color / Race | White |
| Age | 9 |
| Marital Status | Single |
| Birthplace | Louisiana |
| Father's Birthplace | Louisiana |
| Mother's Birthplace | Louisiana |
| Can Read | Yes |
| Can Write | Yes |
| Speaks English | English |
| Birth State | Louisiana |
| Birth Country | United States |
| Birthplace (normalized) | louisiana |
1920
Orleans, Louisiana
Son, age 17
Orleans, Louisiana · implied b. ~1903 — 4 household members
●
Primary link
· ~Confirmed · 2 sources
XGBoost
Household
| Surname | Nelson |
| Given Name | Willie |
| Relationship to Head | Son |
| Sex | M |
| Color / Race | Black |
| Age | 17 |
| Marital Status | Single |
| Birthplace | Louisiana |
| Father's Birthplace | Louisiana |
| Mother's Birthplace | Louisiana |
| Occupation | none |
| Can Read | No |
| Can Write | No |
| Speaks English | Yes |
| Birth State | Louisiana |
| Birth Country | United States |
| Birthplace (normalized) | louisiana |
Head, age 26
Orleans, Louisiana · implied b. ~1904 — 3 household members
●
Primary link
· ~Confirmed · 2 sources
XGBoost
Household
| Surname | Nelson |
| Given Name | William |
| Relationship to Head | Head |
| Sex | M |
| Color / Race | Black |
| Age | 26 |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Birthplace | Louisiana |
| Age at First Marriage | 21 |
| Father's Birthplace | Louisiana |
| Mother's Birthplace | Louisiana |
| Occupation | Chauffeur |
| Industry | Drayage |
| Class of Worker | W |
| Can Read/Write | Yes |
| Home Owned/Rented | R |
| Home Value / Rent | 16 |
| Veteran | No |
| Birth State | Louisiana |
| Birth Country | United States |
| Birthplace (normalized) | louisiana |
1940
Orleans-County, Louisiana
Head, age 36
Orleans-County, Louisiana · implied b. ~1904 — 5 household members
| Surname | Nelson |
| Given Name | Willie |
| Relationship to Head | Head |
| Sex | M |
| Color / Race | Black |
| Age | 36 |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Birthplace | Louisiana |
| 1935 Residence (City) | New Orleans City |
| 1935 Residence (County) | Orleans |
| Occupation | Truck Driver |
| Industry | Cotton Compress |
| Class of Worker | PW |
| Hours Worked | 45 |
| Income (1939) | 720 |
| Highest Grade | No 5 |
| 1935 Residence | Louisiana |
| Birth State | Louisiana |
| Birth Country | United States |
| Birthplace (normalized) | louisiana |
Model Tree
An inferred pedigree reconstructed from census links — up to 4 generations within the 1900–1950 window. Closer generations are built from household co-residence; deeper ones are bridged by following a relative to their own childhood census. Confidence compounds and weakens with each generation.
Our Model Tree links Willie Nelson across 4 US Census years (1910, 1920, 1930 and 1940) in 2 locations, using XGBoost record linkage. Identified parents: father James Nelson (~0.92 confidence) and father Nicola Goldstein (~0.60 confidence) and mother Lizzie Nelson (~0.92 confidence). The pedigree spans 1 generation with 3 identified ancestors.
Show:
Gen 1
Parents
confidence ≈ 0.81
Father
James Nelson
b. ~1877
Source father
● Household
· direct · ~0.92
Father
Nicola Goldstein
b. ~1891
Source father
● Household
· direct · ~0.6
Mother
Lizzie Nelson
b. ~1877
Source mother
● Household
· direct · ~0.92
This person
Anchor record
Willie Nelson
Head · 1940 · age 36 · b. ~1904 · Louisiana
★ You are viewing this record
Confirmed / household (~0.90+)
Probable / derived (~0.65–0.89)
Candidate (<0.65, unverified)
Original Census Page
1940 US Federal Census — Orleans-County, Louisiana
Open full size
1940 US Federal Census — Orleans-County, Louisiana
Page Contents
39 people indexed on this census page (nara:1940:m-t0627-01432-00612)
| Line | Name | Age | Relation | Occupation | Birthplace |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jane Brooks | 20 | Sister | — | Louisiana |
| 2 | Ruby Mcbainey | 35 | Head | — | Louisiana |
| 3 | Idolis Mcbainey | 15 | Daughter | — | Louisiana |
| 4 | Jewelly Mcbainey | 12 | Daughter | — | Louisiana |
| 5 | Arthur Mcbainey | 10 | Daughter | — | Louisiana |
| 6 | Harold Mcbainey | 4 | Daughter | — | Louisiana |
| 7 | Joseph Mcbainey | 2 | Son | — | Louisiana |
| 8 | Howard Baker | 29 | Head | Truck Driver | Tennessee |
| 9 | Martha Baker | 29 | Wife | Housewife | Louisiana |
| 10 | Clemance Mcturnay | 29 | Head | — | Louisiana |
| 11 | Joseph Mcturnay | 15 | Grandson | Yard Boy | Louisiana |
| 12 | Estelle Mcturnay | 23 | Granddaughter | Cook | Louisiana |
| 13 | Marie Howell | 40 | Head | Maid | Mississippi |
| 14 | Jennie Howell | 32 | Sister | Maid | Mississippi |
| 15 | Bernard Howell | 34 | Brother | — | Mississippi |
| 16 | Willie Nelson THIS PERSON | 36 | Head | Truck Driver | Louisiana |
| 17 | Bessie Nelson | 34 | Wife | — | Louisiana |
| 18 | Willie Jr Nelson | 12 | Son | — | Louisiana |
| 19 | Gene Nelson | 7 | Daughter | — | Louisiana |
| 20 | Bessie Mae Nelson | 5 | Daughter | — | Louisiana |
| 21 | Henry Perry | 38 | Head | Laborer | Louisiana |
| 22 | Gladys Perry | 24 | Wife | — | Louisiana |
| 23 | Wilber Perry | 15 | Son | — | Louisiana |
| 24 | Joseph Perry | 13 | Son | — | Louisiana |
| 25 | James Perry | 12 | Son | — | Louisiana |
| 26 | Elvira Perry | 8 | Daughter | — | Louisiana |
| 27 | Naomi Perry | 4 | Daughter | — | Louisiana |
| 28 | Benjamin Perry | 1 | Son | — | Louisiana |
| 29 | Alice Bergeron | 60 | Head | Cook | Louisiana |
| 30 | Ernestine Bergeron | 29 | Daughter | — | Louisiana |
| 31 | Annie Mae Bergeron | 5 | Granddaughter | — | Louisiana |
| 32 | Nathan Bergeron | 4 | Grandson | — | Louisiana |
| 33 | Albertine Rendell | 12 | Granddaughter | — | Louisiana |
| 34 | Isabella Minnie | 50 | Sister | Cook | Louisiana |
| 35 | Elvin Dubre | 23 | Head | Chauffeur | Louisiana |
| 36 | Ollie Dubre | 25 | Wife | — | Louisiana |
| 37 | Elvin Jr Dubre | 2 | Son | — | Louisiana |
| 38 | Haywood L Dubre | 52 | Head | Clerk | Louisiana |
| 39 | Amelie Dubre | 46 | Wife | — | Mississippi |
Related Census Records
Pedigree Summary
Willie
Gen 1 · 3 parents
~0.81
Max depth 4 (1900–1950 window)
About This Record & Model Tree
This record was independently indexed by YourRoots from the 1940 United States Federal Census (NARA). Our Model Tree links this person across census decades using XGBoost-based record linkage, with per-link confidence scores. Household corroboration strengthens the signal when co-residents appear on the same census pages in multiple years.
Source: National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)