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Orell Family History

Orell Surname Meaning

Catalan and Swiss German: from a personal name derived from the Latin name Aurelius (see Aurelio). English (Lancashire): variant of Orrell.

Swedish: ornamental name from an unexplained first element (possibly from a placename) + the suffix -ell a derivative of the Latin adjectival ending -elius.

In some cases also an Americanized form of Slovenian Orel ‘eagle’ or of the Serbian cognate Orelj which is derived from an adjectival form of orao ‘eagle’.

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


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Where is the Orell family from?

You can see how Orell families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Orell family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Orell families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 40 Orell families living in Lancashire. This was about 52% of all the recorded Orell's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Orell families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Orell 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 Orell ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Ring Traveller Polisher and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Orell. 100% of Orell men worked as a Ring Traveller Polisher and 100% of Orell women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Orell | 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

  • Ring Traveller Polisher
    100%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    100%

What Orell family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search UK census records for Orell

Passenger Lists

There are 513 immigration records available for the last name Orell. 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 Orell immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 637 military records available for the last name Orell. For the veterans among your Orell ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Orell military records

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What is the average Orell lifespan?

Between 1962 and 2003, in the United States, Orell life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1978, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for Orell in 1962 was 82, and 91 in 2003.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Orell

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Orell 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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