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Pethel Family History

Pethel Surname Meaning

Americanized form of German Bechtel or of its very rare variant Bächtel (see Bachtel).

Compare Petell.

Possibly also an altered form of German and Welsh Bethel.

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


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Pethel family from?

You can see how Pethel families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Pethel family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1841 and 1920. The most Pethel families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 19 Pethel families living in London. This was about 40% of all the recorded Pethel's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Pethel families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Pethel 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 Pethel ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Unpaid Domestic Duties was the top reported job for people in the United Kingdom named Pethel. 67% of Pethel women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Pethel | 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 Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    67%
  • Cook
    34%

What Pethel family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search UK census records for Pethel

Passenger Lists

There are 74 immigration records available for the last name Pethel. 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 Pethel immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 463 military records available for the last name Pethel. For the veterans among your Pethel ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Pethel military records

You've only scratched the surface of Pethel family history

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What is the average Pethel lifespan?

Between 1944 and 2004, in the United States, Pethel life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1973, and highest in 1968. The average life expectancy for Pethel in 1944 was 47, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Pethel

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

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