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Roskell Family History

Roskell Surname Meaning

From the Middle English personal name Roskel Roskil (Old Scandinavian Hrosketill Hrosskell from hros ‘horse’ + ketill ‘kettle cauldron’). Some bearers may belong with (2).

In NW England, perhaps also from Rosgill in Shap (Westm) which is recorded as Rossgill in 1260–70.

The place-name derives from Old Scandinavian hross ‘horse’ (genitive plural hrossa) + gil ‘ravine’.

Source: The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland, 2016


Similar surnames: 

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Where is the Roskell family from?

You can see how Roskell families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Roskell family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Scotland between 1880 and 1920. The most Roskell families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 227 Roskell families living in Lancashire. This was about 90% of all the recorded Roskell's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Roskell families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Roskell 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 Roskell 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 Roskell. 20% of Roskell men worked as a General Labourer and 71% of Roskell women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Roskell were Horseman On Farm and Housewife.

View Census Data for Roskell | 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
    20%
  • Poultry Farmer
    17%
  • Farmer
    10%
  • Horseman On Farm
    10%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    71%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    5%
  • Unpaid Domestic Dutie
    5%
  • Housewife
    4%

What Roskell family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 3,000 census records available for the last name Roskell. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Roskell census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Roskell

Passenger Lists

There are 341 immigration records available for the last name Roskell. 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 Roskell immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 315 military records available for the last name Roskell. For the veterans among your Roskell ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Roskell military records

You've only scratched the surface of Roskell family history

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What is the average Roskell lifespan?

Between 1970 and 1986, in the United States, Roskell life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1970, and highest in 1983. The average life expectancy for Roskell in 1970 was 53, and 77 in 1986.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Roskell

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Roskell 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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