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

Orrell Family History

Orrell Name Meaning

English (Lancashire): habitational name from either of two minor places in Lancashire called Orell. The placename derives from Old English ōra ‘bank slope hill edge’ or ōra ‘ore’ + hyll ‘hill’.

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


Similar surnames: Gorrell, Worrell, Cornell, Correll, Morrell, Orell, Oswell, Borrello

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 Orrell family from?

You can see how Orrell families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Orrell family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Orrell families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 1,096 Orrell families living in Lancashire. This was about 84% of all the recorded Orrell's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Orrell families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Orrell surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Orrell ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Orrell. 13% of Orrell men worked as a General Labourer and 75% of Orrell women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Orrell were Retired and Incapacitated. .

View Census Data for Orrell | 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 1939

  • General Labourer
    13%
  • Incapacitated
    7%
  • Colliery Hewer
    4%
  • Retired
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    75%
  • Cotton Weaver
    4%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Incapacitated
    3%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Orrell family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 21,000 census records available for the last name Orrell. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Orrell census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Orrell

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Orrell. 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 Orrell immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 3,000 military records available for the last name Orrell. For the veterans among your Orrell ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Orrell military records

You've only scratched the surface of Orrell family history

Discover More

What is the average Orrell lifespan?

Between 1949 and 2004, in the United States, Orrell life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1957, and highest in 1989. The average life expectancy for Orrell in 1949 was 53, and 77 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Orrell

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Orrell family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Orrell last name

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