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Farnell Family History

Farnell Surname Meaning

English: habitational name from any of various places called from Old English fearn ‘fern’ + hyll ‘hill’ such as Farnell (Kent, Wiltshire), Farnhill (Yorkshire), and Fernhill (Cheshire).

In a few cases it may also derive from Farnell in Angus, Scotland, although the surname is not now common in Scotland.

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


Similar surnames: 

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Where is the Farnell family from?

You can see how Farnell families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Farnell family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Farnell families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 499 Farnell families living in Yorkshire. This was about 37% of all the recorded Farnell's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Farnell families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Farnell 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 Farnell 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 Farnell. 11% of Farnell men worked as a General Labourer and 74% of Farnell women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Farnell were Builders Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Dut.

View Census Data for Farnell | 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
    11%
  • Bricklayer
    6%
  • Farmer
    6%
  • Builders Labourer
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    74%
  • Unpaid Domestic Dutie
    3%
  • Housewife
    2%
  • Unpaid Domestic Dut
    2%

What Farnell family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 29,000 census records available for the last name Farnell. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Farnell census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Farnell

Passenger Lists

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

Draft Cards

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

View all Farnell military records

You've only scratched the surface of Farnell family history

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What is the average Farnell lifespan?

Between 1956 and 2004, in the United States, Farnell life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1958, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Farnell in 1956 was 56, and 87 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Farnell

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Farnell 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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