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Joel Family History

Joel Surname Meaning

English (northern): variant of Jewell.

German, French, and Jewish: from the personal name Joel, Hebrew Yoel, borne by a Biblical prophet.

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 Joel family from?

You can see how Joel families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Joel family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Joel families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 287 Joel families living in London. This was about 37% of all the recorded Joel's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Joel families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Joel 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 Joel 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 Joel. 19% of Joel men worked as a General Labourer and 68% of Joel women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Joel were Postman and Unpaid Domestic Duti.

View Census Data for Joel | 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
    19%
  • Licensed Victualler
    8%
  • Ladies Hairdresser
    6%
  • Postman
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    68%
  • Private Means
    5%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    4%
  • Unpaid Domestic Duti
    3%

What Joel family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 28,000 census records available for the last name Joel. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Joel census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Joel

Passenger Lists

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

Draft Cards

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

View all Joel military records

You've only scratched the surface of Joel family history

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What is the average Joel lifespan?

Between 1954 and 2004, in the United States, Joel life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1959, and highest in 1970. The average life expectancy for Joel in 1954 was 50, and 67 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Joel

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Joel 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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