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Able Family History

Able Surname Meaning

English: variant spelling of Abel. Probably also an Americanized spelling of the same surname in other languages.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names ©2013, Oxford University Press


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 Able family from?

You can see how Able families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Able family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Able families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 116 Able families living in Norfolk. This was about 30% of all the recorded Able's in United Kingdom. Norfolk had the highest population of Able families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Able 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 Able ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Farm Labourer Hw and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Able. 100% of Able men worked as a Farm Labourer Hw and 79% of Able women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Able | 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

  • Farm Labourer Hw
    100%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    79%
  • Housekeeper
    6%
  • Domestic Duties Unpaid
    4%
  • Unpaid Domestic Duti
    4%

What Able family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 33,000 census records available for the last name Able. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Able census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Able

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Able. 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 Able immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 17,000 military records available for the last name Able. For the veterans among your Able ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Able military records

You've only scratched the surface of Able family history

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What is the average Able lifespan?

Between 1941 and 2004, in the United States, Able life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1941, and highest in 1986. The average life expectancy for Able in 1941 was 37, and 76 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Able

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Able 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 Able family tree

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