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Gabel Family History

Gabel Surname Meaning

German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): metonymic occupational name for a maker and seller of forks from Middle High German gabel(e) German Gabel ‘fork’. The reference is to any of the various pieces of agricultural equipment denoted by this word; for example, hay forks, shearlegs, etc. Table forks were not used in Germany for eating before the 16th century.

German: topographic name for someone who lived near a fork in a road or river, or owned a forked piece of land, from the German word (see 1 above) in this transferred sense.

German: habitational name from any of the places called Gabel in Germany, in Schleswig, Thuringia, Silesia, and in particular in Bohemia, which derive their name from Slavic jablo ‘apple tree’.

German: from a short form of Gabriel.

German (Gäbel): see Gaebel.

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


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Where is the Gabel family from?

You can see how Gabel families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Gabel family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Gabel families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 13 Gabel families living in London. This was about 42% of all the recorded Gabel's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Gabel families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Gabel 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 Gabel ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Butchers Assistant and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Gabel. 100% of Gabel men worked as a Butchers Assistant and 78% of Gabel women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Gabel | 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

  • Butchers Assistant
    100%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    78%
  • Shop Assistant
    23%

What Gabel family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 28,000 census records available for the last name Gabel. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Gabel census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Gabel

Passenger Lists

There are 4,000 immigration records available for the last name Gabel. 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.

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Draft Cards

There are 7,000 military records available for the last name Gabel. For the veterans among your Gabel ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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What is the average Gabel lifespan?

Between 1943 and 2004, in the United States, Gabel life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1954, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Gabel in 1943 was 33, and 81 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Gabel

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Gabel 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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