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Messel Family History

Messel Surname Meaning

Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland.


Similar surnames: Messer, Kessel, Hessel, Meisel, Ressel, Gessel, Fessel, Wessel

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Messel family from?

You can see how Messel families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Messel family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1880 and 1920. The most Messel families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 2 Messel families living in Lancashire. This was about 40% of all the recorded Messel's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Messel families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Messel 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 Messel ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Laborer were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Messel. 45% of Messel men worked as a Farmer and 100% of Messel women worked as a Laborer.

View Census Data for Messel | 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

  • Farmer
    45%
  • Laborer
    30%
  • Machinist
    12%
  • Clerk
    8%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    100%

What Messel family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1,000 census records available for the last name Messel. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Messel census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Messel

Passenger Lists

There are 678 immigration records available for the last name Messel. 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 Messel immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 189 military records available for the last name Messel. For the veterans among your Messel ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Messel military records

You've only scratched the surface of Messel family history

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What is the average Messel lifespan?

Between 1944 and 2004, in the United States, Messel life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 1963. The average life expectancy for Messel in 1944 was 27, and 70 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Messel

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Messel 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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