This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Povall family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Povall Family History

Povall Surname Meaning

A variant of Pover (see Povey) with excrescent -ll comes from an unidentified French place called Poville. Wido de Poville held a third of a fee of Ranulf II of Chester in 1144; Hugo de Poville held half a fee in Yorks of William de Percy in 1166.

Serlo de Poville witnessed grants in York (about 1180-1200) and in 1209 his widow had a plea of dower in Farnley (WR Yorks); see Domesday Descendants pp. 647-8. Whether this family name survived beyond the early 13th century is not clear.

It is uncertain if the Poville family contributed to the modern name Povall.

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


Similar surnames: 

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Povall family from?

You can see how Povall families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Povall family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1840 and 1920. The most Povall families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 116 Povall families living in Cheshire. This was about 49% of all the recorded Povall's in United Kingdom. Cheshire had the highest population of Povall families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Povall surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Povall ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Farmer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Povall. 24% of Povall men worked as a Farmer and 83% of Povall women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Povall were Transport Driver and Domestic Duties Unpaid.

View Census Data for Povall | 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

  • Farmer
    24%
  • Pattern Maker Wood
    16%
  • Dairy Farmer
    16%
  • Transport Driver
    16%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    83%
  • Domestic Servant
    4%
  • Domestic Duties
    4%
  • Domestic Duties Unpaid
    3%

What Povall family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 3,000 census records available for the last name Povall. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Povall census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Povall

Passenger Lists

There are 584 immigration records available for the last name Povall. 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 Povall immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 285 military records available for the last name Povall. For the veterans among your Povall ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Povall military records

You've only scratched the surface of Povall family history

Discover More

What is the average Povall lifespan?

Between 1966 and 2003, in the United States, Povall life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1973, and highest in 1983. The average life expectancy for Povall in 1966 was 88, and 66 in 2003.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Povall

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Povall 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.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Povall family tree

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