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Pestell Family History

Pestell Surname Meaning

from Middle English pestel(le) ‘pestle tool used to grind items in a mortar’ (Old French pestel Latin pistillum) probably a nickname for someone who used a pestle such as a spicer or a compounder of drugs.

Some of the early bearers may belong under (2). possibly also from a lost or as yet unidentified place.

Source: The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland, 2016


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Where is the Pestell family from?

You can see how Pestell families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Pestell family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1861 and 1920. The most Pestell families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 114 Pestell families living in Norfolk. This was about 23% of all the recorded Pestell's in United Kingdom. Norfolk had the highest population of Pestell families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Pestell 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 Pestell ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Bricklayer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Pestell. 24% of Pestell men worked as a Bricklayer and 76% of Pestell women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Pestell were General Labourer and Domestic Unpaid.

View Census Data for Pestell | 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

  • Bricklayer
    24%
  • Incapacitated
    18%
  • Farm Labourer
    18%
  • General Labourer
    18%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    76%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    4%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Domestic Unpaid
    2%

What Pestell family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 10,000 census records available for the last name Pestell. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Pestell census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Pestell

Passenger Lists

There are 583 immigration records available for the last name Pestell. 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 Pestell immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 681 military records available for the last name Pestell. For the veterans among your Pestell ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Pestell military records

You've only scratched the surface of Pestell family history

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What is the average Pestell lifespan?

Between 1964 and 2003, in the United States, Pestell life expectancy was at its lowest point in 2000, and highest in 1988. The average life expectancy for Pestell in 1964 was 90, and 60 in 2003.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Pestell

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Pestell 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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