This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Pell family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Pell Family History

Pell Surname Meaning

English: from the Middle English personal name Pell, a pet form of Peter.

English: metonymic occupational name for a dealer in furs from Middle English Old French pel ‘skin’.

English: variant of Pill.

German: variant of Pelle or, in some instances, a variant of Pfell, the South German form of this name from Middle High German phelle(e) ‘purple silk cloth’.

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


Similar surnames: 

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Pell family from?

You can see how Pell families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Pell family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Pell families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 329 Pell families living in Yorkshire. This was about 17% of all the recorded Pell's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Pell families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Pell surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Pell 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 Pell. 7% of Pell men worked as a General Labourer and 68% of Pell women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Pell were Farmer and Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Pell | 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
    7%
  • Agricultural Labourer
    7%
  • Farm Labourer
    6%
  • Farmer
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    68%
  • Housewife
    4%
  • Household Duties
    3%
  • Domestic Duties
    3%

What Pell family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 62,000 census records available for the last name Pell. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Pell census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Pell

Passenger Lists

There are 8,000 immigration records available for the last name Pell. 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 Pell immigration records

Draft Cards

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

View all Pell military records

You've only scratched the surface of Pell family history

Discover More

What is the average Pell lifespan?

Between 1941 and 2004, in the United States, Pell life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1952, and highest in 1995. The average life expectancy for Pell in 1941 was 56, and 78 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Pell

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Pell 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 Pell family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial