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Nagel Family History

Nagel Surname Meaning

German, Dutch, Scandinavian, and Jewish (Ashkenazic): from Middle High German, Middle Dutch nagel, German Nagel ‘nail’; hence a metonymic occupational name for a maker of nails. Compare Nail.

Germanized form of Sorbian Nahł, Nagł, Nahły, and Nagły: nickname from Upper Sorbian nahły, Lower Sorbian nagły ‘quick’, also ‘hot-tempered’.

Irish: variant of Nagle. Americanized form of Slovenian Nagelj: nickname from an altered form of nagel ‘quick’, also ‘hot-tempered’ (compare 2 above).

Additionally, it may derive from nagelj ‘carnation’ (the flower) or, less likely, an altered form of German Nagel (see 1 above).

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


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Where is the Nagel family from?

You can see how Nagel families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Nagel family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Nagel families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 29 Nagel families living in London. This was about 60% of all the recorded Nagel's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Nagel families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Nagel 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 Nagel ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Omnibus Driver Lptb and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Nagel. 50% of Nagel men worked as an Omnibus Driver Lptb and 79% of Nagel women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Nagel were Dept Clerk Admiralty and Shorthand Typist Book Keeper.

View Census Data for Nagel | 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

  • Omnibus Driver Lptb
    50%
  • Dept Clerk Admiralty
    50%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    79%
  • Cook
    14%
  • Shorthand Typist Book Keeper
    9%

What Nagel family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 68,000 census records available for the last name Nagel. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Nagel census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Nagel

Passenger Lists

There are 20,000 immigration records available for the last name Nagel. 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 Nagel immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 25,000 military records available for the last name Nagel. For the veterans among your Nagel ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Nagel military records

You've only scratched the surface of Nagel family history

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What is the average Nagel lifespan?

Between 1943 and 2004, in the United States, Nagel life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1943, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Nagel in 1943 was 25, and 79 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Nagel

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Nagel 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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