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Recknagel Family History

Recknagel Surname Meaning

German (Thuringia): from Middle High German recken ‘to raise or lift’ (here in the imperative) + nagel ‘nail’ hence a metonymic occupational name for a blacksmith.

Alternatively, it may also serve as an obscene nickname.

This interpretation arises from a transferred sense for nagel, meaning ‘penis’.

As such, the name carries both professional and potentially vulgar connotations.

Overall, this reflects the complexity and richness of occupational surnames in Germanic languages.

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


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Where is the Recknagel family from?

You can see how Recknagel families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Recknagel family name was found in the USA between 1880 and 1920. The most Recknagel families were found in USA in 1920. In 1880 there were 14 Recknagel families living in New York. This was about 54% of all the recorded Recknagel's in USA. New York had the highest population of Recknagel families in 1880.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Recknagel 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 Recknagel ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Teacher were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Recknagel. 22% of Recknagel men worked as a Farmer and 75% of Recknagel women worked as a Teacher. Some less common occupations for Americans named Recknagel were Office Manager and Manager.

View Census Data for Recknagel | 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
    22%
  • Carpenter
    22%
  • Salesman
    15%
  • Office Manager
    15%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Teacher
    75%
  • Manager
    25%

What Recknagel family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search UK census records for Recknagel

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Recknagel. 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 Recknagel immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 712 military records available for the last name Recknagel. For the veterans among your Recknagel ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Recknagel military records

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What is the average Recknagel lifespan?

Between 1962 and 2004, in the United States, Recknagel life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1984, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for Recknagel in 1962 was 79, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Recknagel

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Recknagel 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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