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

Opel Family History

Opel Name Meaning

German (Saxony): from a short form of the personal name Albert or Adalbert.

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


Similar surnames: Apel, Kopel, Oppel, Ohl, Opp, Topel, Viel, Orel, Pee, Axel

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 Opel family from?

You can see how Opel families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Opel family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Opel families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 9 Opel families living in Warwickshire. This was about 28% of all the recorded Opel's in United Kingdom. Warwickshire had the highest population of Opel families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Opel surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Opel ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Housewife were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Opel. 18% of Opel men worked as a Laborer and 25% of Opel women worked as a Housewife. Some less common occupations for Americans named Opel were Carpenter and New Worker. .

View Census Data for Opel | 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.

United States shown, England data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    18%
  • Farmer
    12%
  • Salesman
    11%
  • Carpenter
    7%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housewife
    25%
  • Clerk
    19%
  • Housekeeper
    17%
  • New Worker
    9%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Opel family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 3,000 census records available for the last name Opel. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Opel census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Opel

Passenger Lists

There are 710 immigration records available for the last name Opel. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Opel immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 2,000 military records available for the last name Opel. For the veterans among your Opel ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Opel military records

You've only scratched the surface of Opel family history

Discover More

What is the average Opel lifespan?

Between 1962 and 2004, in the United States, Opel life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1972, and highest in 1982. The average life expectancy for Opel in 1962 was 61, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Opel

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Opel family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Opel last name

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