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Pownall Family History

Pownall Surname Meaning

English (Lancashire and Cheshire): habitational name from Pownall Hall in Cheshire first recorded in the 12th century as Pohenhale.

It derives from the genitive case of the Old English personal name Pohha + Old English halh meaning ‘nook, corner of land’.

The name reflects the geographical significance of the location in relation to its surroundings.

Pownall Hall has historical value, marking the area's residential heritage.

The evolution of the name over centuries showcases the changes in language and society in the region.

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


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Where is the Pownall family from?

You can see how Pownall families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Pownall family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Pownall families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 693 Pownall families living in Lancashire. This was about 47% of all the recorded Pownall's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Pownall families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Pownall 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 Pownall 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 Pownall. 11% of Pownall men worked as a General Labourer and 72% of Pownall women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Pownall were Builders Labourer and Unpaid Domestic.

View Census Data for Pownall | 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
    11%
  • Retired
    6%
  • Bricklayer
    6%
  • Builders Labourer
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    72%
  • Private Means
    4%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    2%

What Pownall family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 24,000 census records available for the last name Pownall. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Pownall census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Pownall

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Pownall. 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 Pownall immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 2,000 military records available for the last name Pownall. For the veterans among your Pownall ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Pownall military records

You've only scratched the surface of Pownall family history

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What is the average Pownall lifespan?

Between 1941 and 2004, in the United States, Pownall life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1941, and highest in 1997. The average life expectancy for Pownall in 1941 was 44, and 79 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Pownall

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Pownall 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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