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Orrel Family History

Orrel Surname Meaning

Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland.


Similar surnames: Orrell, Orel, Orgel, Orzel, Ortel, Orren, Worrel, Borel, Torre, Oren

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Orrel family from?

You can see how Orrel families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Orrel family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Orrel families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 23 Orrel families living in Yorkshire. This was about 74% of all the recorded Orrel's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Orrel families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Orrel 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 Orrel ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Bony Picker was the top reported job for people in the USA named Orrel. 50% of Orrel men worked as a Bony Picker.

View Census Data for Orrel | 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.

United States shown, England data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Bony Picker
    50%
  • Laborer
    50%

What Orrel family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1,000 census records available for the last name Orrel. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Orrel census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Orrel

Passenger Lists

There are 76 immigration records available for the last name Orrel. 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 Orrel immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 202 military records available for the last name Orrel. For the veterans among your Orrel ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Orrel military records

You've only scratched the surface of Orrel family history

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What is the average Orrel lifespan?

Between 1972 and 2004, in the United States, Orrel life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1983, and highest in 1998. The average life expectancy for Orrel in 1972 was 83, and 72 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Orrel

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Orrel 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.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Orrel family tree

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