This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Gorrell family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Gorrell Family History

Gorrell Surname Meaning

English (Devon):: nickname from Middle English gorrell ‘fat man’ (Old French gorel ‘pig’). from the Old English personal name Gārwulf composed of the elements gār ‘spear’ + wulf ‘wolf’.

Habitational name from Gorrel (Devon), Gorwell (Essex), or Gorrel Farm (Buckinghamshire) or a topographic name for someone who lived ‘(by the) muddy spring (by the) muddy hill’ or ‘(at the) muddy nook’ from Middle English gire gure (Old English gyr(e) ‘mud, filth’).

Middle English wel(le) ‘spring, fount’ (Old English well wyll); Middle English hil(le) ‘hill’ (Old English hyl); or Middle English halgh ‘nook’ (Old English halh) respectively.

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


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 Gorrell family from?

You can see how Gorrell families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Gorrell family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Gorrell families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 34 Gorrell families living in Devon. This was about 28% of all the recorded Gorrell's in United Kingdom. Devon and 1 other county had the highest population of Gorrell families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Gorrell surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Gorrell ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Unpaid Domestic Duties was the top reported job for people in the United Kingdom named Gorrell. 82% of Gorrell women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Gorrell | 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
    82%
  • Housewife
    6%
  • Domestic Servant
    6%
  • Tailoress
    4%

What Gorrell family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 16,000 census records available for the last name Gorrell. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Gorrell census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Gorrell

Passenger Lists

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

Draft Cards

There are 3,000 military records available for the last name Gorrell. For the veterans among your Gorrell ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Gorrell military records

You've only scratched the surface of Gorrell family history

Discover More

What is the average Gorrell lifespan?

Between 1945 and 2004, in the United States, Gorrell life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1945, and highest in 1993. The average life expectancy for Gorrell in 1945 was 22, and 76 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Gorrell

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

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial