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Liddell Family History

Liddell Surname Meaning

Scottish and northern English: habitational name from any of various places in the Scottish Borders and Cumbria called Liddel.

It originates from the Old English river name Hl̄de, meaning ‘loud’.

The name also incorporates Old English dæl, which means ‘valley’.

Liddel is a name that connects geographical features with the cultural heritage of the regions it represents.

This etymology highlights the significance of natural landscapes in naming conventions in these areas.

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


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Where is the Liddell family from?

You can see how Liddell families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Liddell family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Liddell families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 412 Liddell families living in Durham. This was about 28% of all the recorded Liddell's in United Kingdom. Durham had the highest population of Liddell families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Liddell 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 Liddell 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 Liddell. 12% of Liddell men worked as a General Labourer and 73% of Liddell women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Liddell were Schoolmaster and Unpaid Domestic Duti.

View Census Data for Liddell | 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
    12%
  • Incapacitated
    6%
  • Bricklayer
    6%
  • Schoolmaster
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    73%
  • Private Means
    4%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic Duti
    2%

What Liddell family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 57,000 census records available for the last name Liddell. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Liddell census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Liddell

Passenger Lists

There are 10,000 immigration records available for the last name Liddell. 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 Liddell immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 6,000 military records available for the last name Liddell. For the veterans among your Liddell ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Liddell military records

You've only scratched the surface of Liddell family history

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What is the average Liddell lifespan?

Between 1948 and 2004, in the United States, Liddell life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1956, and highest in 1997. The average life expectancy for Liddell in 1948 was 42, and 70 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Liddell

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Liddell 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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