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Markell Family History

Markell Surname Meaning

Americanized form of German Markel 1 or Markl 1 and possibly also of Slovenian Markelj (see Markel). Compare Markle. Jewish (American): variant of Markel.

English (Suffolk): perhaps a habitational name from the Middle English river name Markel of uncertain etymology but recorded in Old English as Mearcella Mercyl. The river was renamed in modern times as the River Brett back-formed from Brettenham (Suffolk).

English: perhaps a habitational name from one or other of the places called Markshall in Essex and Norfolk with loss of -s-. The Norfolk placename may originally have denoted the hall (Old English hall) or the nook of land (Old English halh) of a man named with the Old English personal name Mǣric.

The Essex place may have denoted the dwellings (plural of Old English sele) by the boundary (Old English mearc) referring to the border between the hundreds of Lexden and Hinckford or else the dwellings of a man named Mǣric or Mearc.

English: perhaps a shortened form of Markley the main source of which was probably Marcle (Herefordshire). English (Devon and Cornwall): variant of Markwell.

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


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Where is the Markell family from?

You can see how Markell families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Markell family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Markell families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 66 Markell families living in London. This was about 16% of all the recorded Markell's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Markell families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Markell surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Markell ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Foreman Carpenter and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Markell. 25% of Markell men worked as a Foreman Carpenter and 94% of Markell women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Markell were Railway Porter and Ladys Maidretired.

View Census Data for Markell | 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

  • Foreman Carpenter
    25%
  • Bricklayer
    25%
  • Porter
    25%
  • Railway Porter
    25%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    94%
  • Ladys Maidretired
    7%

What Markell family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 11,000 census records available for the last name Markell. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Markell census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Markell

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Markell. 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 Markell immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Markell. For the veterans among your Markell ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Markell military records

You've only scratched the surface of Markell family history

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What is the average Markell lifespan?

Between 1955 and 2004, in the United States, Markell life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1965, and highest in 1997. The average life expectancy for Markell in 1955 was 69, and 84 in 2004.

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Markell 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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