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Powells Family History

Powells 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: Powell, Howells, Wells, Howell, Rowell, Mowell, Cowell, Bowell

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Powells family from?

You can see how Powells families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Powells family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Powells families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 11 Powells families living in Monmouthshire. This was about 15% of all the recorded Powells's in United Kingdom. Monmouthshire had the highest population of Powells families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Powells 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 Powells ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Unpaid Domestic Duties was the top reported job for people in the United Kingdom named Powells. 80% of Powells women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Powells | 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
    80%
  • Domestic Duties
    20%

What Powells family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 5,000 census records available for the last name Powells. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Powells census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Powells

Passenger Lists

There are 285 immigration records available for the last name Powells. 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 Powells immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 624 military records available for the last name Powells. For the veterans among your Powells ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Powells military records

You've only scratched the surface of Powells family history

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What is the average Powells lifespan?

Between 1961 and 2004, in the United States, Powells life expectancy was at its lowest point in 2001, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Powells in 1961 was 64, and 96 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Powells

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Powells 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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