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Riels Family History

Riels Surname Meaning

German: probably a patronymic from Riel a variant of Riehl.

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


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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Riels family from?

You can see how Riels families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Riels family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1871 and 1920. The most Riels families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 3 Riels families living in Glamorgan. This was about 60% of all the recorded Riels's in United Kingdom. Glamorgan had the highest population of Riels families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Riels 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 Riels ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Laborer were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Riels. 34% of Riels men worked as a Farmer and 100% of Riels women worked as a Laborer.

View Census Data for Riels | 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

  • Farmer
    34%
  • Farm Laborer
    23%
  • Laborer
    23%
  • Day Laborer
    23%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    100%

What Riels family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 632 census records available for the last name Riels. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Riels census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Riels

Passenger Lists

There are 63 immigration records available for the last name Riels. 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 Riels immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 248 military records available for the last name Riels. For the veterans among your Riels ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Riels military records

You've only scratched the surface of Riels family history

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What is the average Riels lifespan?

Between 1950 and 2004, in the United States, Riels life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1950, and highest in 1991. The average life expectancy for Riels in 1950 was 28, and 63 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Riels

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Riels 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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