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Birnell Family History

Birnell Surname Meaning

Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland.


Similar surnames: Bignell, Burnell, Barnell, Birrell, Cornell, Carnell, Bissell

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Birnell family from?

You can see how Birnell families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Birnell family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Scotland between 1851 and 1920. The most Birnell families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 4 Birnell families living in Somerset. This was 100% of all the recorded Birnell's in United Kingdom. Somerset had the highest population of Birnell families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Birnell 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 Birnell ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer was the top reported job for people in the USA named Birnell. 60% of Birnell men worked as a Laborer.

View Census Data for Birnell | 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

  • Laborer
    60%
  • Truck Driver
    40%

What Birnell family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 294 census records available for the last name Birnell. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Birnell census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Birnell

Passenger Lists

There are 19 immigration records available for the last name Birnell. 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 Birnell immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 89 military records available for the last name Birnell. For the veterans among your Birnell ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Birnell military records

You've only scratched the surface of Birnell family history

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What is the average Birnell lifespan?

Between 1963 and 2004, in the United States, Birnell life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1979, and highest in 1987. The average life expectancy for Birnell in 1963 was 67, and 79 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Birnell

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Birnell 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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