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Kembel Family History

Kembel Surname Meaning

German: from Middle High German kembel ‘camel’ applied as a topographic or habitational name referring to a house or inn named Zum Kembel or Zum Kämbel ‘At the Camel’.

The term highlights the historical significance of locations associated with this name.

Such a name indicates the presence of a house or inn, often serving as a landmark for travelers.

Interestingly, the name Zum Kämbel is still found as an inn name in Zurich today.

This connection illustrates how language and place names evolve while retaining historical references.

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


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Where is the Kembel family from?

You can see how Kembel families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Kembel family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1840 and 1920. The most Kembel families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 9 Kembel families living in Gloucestershire. This was about 53% of all the recorded Kembel's in United Kingdom. Gloucestershire had the highest population of Kembel families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Kembel 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 Kembel ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Unpaid Domestic Duties was the top reported job for people in the United Kingdom named Kembel. 75% of Kembel women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Kembel | 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
    75%
  • Private Means
    25%

What Kembel family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 2,000 census records available for the last name Kembel. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Kembel census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Kembel

Passenger Lists

There are 231 immigration records available for the last name Kembel. 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 Kembel immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 354 military records available for the last name Kembel. For the veterans among your Kembel ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Kembel military records

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What is the average Kembel lifespan?

Between 1948 and 2004, in the United States, Kembel life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1948, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Kembel in 1948 was 31, and 91 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Kembel

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

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