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Horsnell Family History

Horsnell Surname Meaning

The name originates from Middle English horsenail meaning ‘horseshoe nail’. The motivation for this name remains uncertain; it might have been metonymic for a farrier. However, the earliest recorded bearer of the name owned a sizable house (a mesagium) in Bridgnorth, suggesting he was a freeholder of some substance.

More likely, the name was metaphorical for a small person with a large head. This interpretation is supported by Edward Topsell's reference to tadpoles, which he called in English Horse-nailes. Topsell noted they resemble a Horse-naile in their form, having a great head and a smaller body.

The reference dates back to 1608 and can be found in the OED. The weird analogy of this name to certain characteristics speaks to the creativity of language and how it evolves over time.

For further understanding of the etymology, one can compare with the term Cabot, which shares some linguistic attributes.

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


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Where is the Horsnell family from?

You can see how Horsnell families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Horsnell family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1880 and 1920. The most Horsnell families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 93 Horsnell families living in Essex. This was about 70% of all the recorded Horsnell's in United Kingdom. Essex had the highest population of Horsnell families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Horsnell 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 Horsnell ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Plumber and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Horsnell. 16% of Horsnell men worked as a Plumber and 85% of Horsnell women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Horsnell were Jobbing Gardener and Old Age Pensioner.

View Census Data for Horsnell | 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

  • Plumber
    16%
  • House Decorator
    16%
  • Gardener
    16%
  • Jobbing Gardener
    11%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    85%
  • Housewife
    4%
  • Dressmaker
    3%
  • Old Age Pensioner
    2%

What Horsnell family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 9,000 census records available for the last name Horsnell. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Horsnell census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Horsnell

Passenger Lists

There are 420 immigration records available for the last name Horsnell. 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 Horsnell immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 437 military records available for the last name Horsnell. For the veterans among your Horsnell ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Horsnell military records

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What is the average Horsnell lifespan?

Between 1966 and 2003, in the United States, Horsnell life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1989, and highest in 1991. The average life expectancy for Horsnell in 1966 was 68, and 65 in 2003.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Horsnell

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Horsnell 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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