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Birrell Family History

Birrell Surname Meaning

Scottish (Fife) and English: variant of Burrell.

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


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Birrell family from?

You can see how Birrell families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Birrell family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Birrell families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 80 Birrell families living in Cumberland. This was about 25% of all the recorded Birrell's in United Kingdom. Cumberland had the highest population of Birrell families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Birrell 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 Birrell ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Birrell. 47% of Birrell men worked as a General Labourer and 77% of Birrell women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Birrell were Commercial Traveller and Unpaid Domestic Duti.

View Census Data for Birrell | 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

  • General Labourer
    47%
  • Retired Farmer
    14%
  • Private Means
    14%
  • Commercial Traveller
    14%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    77%
  • Private Means
    6%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    4%
  • Unpaid Domestic Duti
    3%

What Birrell family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 23,000 census records available for the last name Birrell. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Birrell census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Birrell

Passenger Lists

There are 4,000 immigration records available for the last name Birrell. 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 Birrell immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 2,000 military records available for the last name Birrell. For the veterans among your Birrell ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Birrell military records

You've only scratched the surface of Birrell family history

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What is the average Birrell lifespan?

Between 1955 and 2004, in the United States, Birrell life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1961, and highest in 1991. The average life expectancy for Birrell in 1955 was 69, and 89 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Birrell

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Birrell 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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