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Backwell Family History

Backwell Surname Meaning

From Backwell (Somerset) which is recorded as Bacwell in 120.

The place-name is from Old English bæc ‘back ridge’.

It is combined with wiella and wella meaning ‘spring stream’.

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


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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Backwell family from?

You can see how Backwell families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Backwell family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Backwell families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 18 Backwell families living in Devon. This was about 23% of all the recorded Backwell's in United Kingdom. Devon had the highest population of Backwell families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Backwell 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 Backwell ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Unpaid Domestic Duties was the top reported job for people in the United Kingdom named Backwell. 72% of Backwell women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Backwell | 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 Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    72%
  • Private Means
    8%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    8%
  • Incapacitated
    4%

What Backwell family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 2,000 census records available for the last name Backwell. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Backwell census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Backwell

Passenger Lists

There are 338 immigration records available for the last name Backwell. 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 Backwell immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 328 military records available for the last name Backwell. For the veterans among your Backwell ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Backwell military records

You've only scratched the surface of Backwell family history

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What is the average Backwell lifespan?

Between 1967 and 1985, in the United States, Backwell life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1967, and highest in 1985. The average life expectancy for Backwell in 1967 was 85, and 91 in 1985.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Backwell

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Backwell 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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