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Fennell Family History

Fennell Surname Meaning

English: metonymic occupational name for a grower or seller of fennel from Middle English fenel finel finol ‘fennel’ (Old English finugl from Late Latin fenuculum). Fennel was widely used in the Middle Ages for its medicinal and culinary uses.

The surname may also have been a topographic name for someone who lived near a place where the herb grew or was grown, such as the lost place in or near Litlington and Wilmington (Kent) known only from the early surname forms.

Irish: shortened Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Fionnghail ‘descendant of Fionnghal’, a personal name composed of the elements fionn ‘fair, white’ + gal ‘valor’.

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


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Where is the Fennell family from?

You can see how Fennell families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Fennell family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Fennell families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 424 Fennell families living in London. This was about 25% of all the recorded Fennell's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Fennell families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Fennell surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Fennell 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 Fennell. 12% of Fennell men worked as a General Labourer and 69% of Fennell women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Fennell were House Decorator and Housewife.

View Census Data for Fennell | 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
    12%
  • Builders Labourer
    4%
  • Carpenter
    4%
  • House Decorator
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    69%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    4%
  • Domestic Servant
    2%
  • Housewife
    2%

What Fennell family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 78,000 census records available for the last name Fennell. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Fennell census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Fennell

Passenger Lists

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

Draft Cards

There are 10,000 military records available for the last name Fennell. For the veterans among your Fennell ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Fennell military records

You've only scratched the surface of Fennell family history

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What is the average Fennell lifespan?

Between 1943 and 2004, in the United States, Fennell life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1952, and highest in 1993. The average life expectancy for Fennell in 1943 was 35, and 71 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Fennell

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Fennell ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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