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Kiel Family History

Kiel Surname Meaning

North German: in some cases probably a habitational name from the city of Kiel in Schleswig-Holstein but more likely a topographic name for someone living by a long narrow bay or area of sheltered water from Middle Low German kīl ‘wedge’ the word from which the city derives its name. German: from Middle Low German Middle High German kīl ‘wedge’ applied as a metonymic occupational name or as a pejorative nickname for a ruffian or a bumbler.

German and Dutch: from a short form of the personal name Kilian. North German: possibly an occupational name for a ship's captain short for Low German Kilmester (Middle Low German kil ‘keel boat’ + mester ‘master skipper’).

Dutch: from Middle Dutch kidel kedel ‘smock’ hence a metonymic occupational name for someone who made such garments or perhaps a nickname for someone who habitually wore one.

Dutch: topographic name from Middle Dutch kille kiele ‘gully between sandbanks; fairway; anchorage’ or a habitational name from a place so named in Antwerp or from the German city (see 1 above). Polish (Kieł): from kieł ‘tooth fang’ hence a nickname for someone with bad or protruding teeth.

Scottish: variant of Keil. Swedish: of German origin (see above) or an ornamental form of Kil a habitational name from placenames such as Kila in the province of Värmland or Kilby in the province of Uppland named with kil- ‘wedge’. Jewish (Ashkenazic): variant of Kil.

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

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Where is the Kiel family from?

You can see how Kiel families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Kiel family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Kiel families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 21 Kiel families living in London. This was about 43% of all the recorded Kiel's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Kiel families in 1891.

Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Kiel 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 Kiel family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 20,000 census records available for the last name Kiel. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Kiel census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

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Passenger Lists

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

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Draft Cards

There are 26,000 military records available for the last name Kiel. For the veterans among your Kiel ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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What is the average Kiel lifespan?

Between 1949 and 2004, in the United States, Kiel life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1954, and highest in 1997. The average life expectancy for Kiel in 1949 was 52, and 74 in 2004.

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