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Russel Family History

Russel Surname Meaning

English (of Norman origin): variant of Russell.

German: from a pet form of Russ see Russ.

Northwest German (Rüssel): probably a variant of Rossel.

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


Similar surnames: 

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Where is the Russel family from?

You can see how Russel families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Russel family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Russel families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 212 Russel families living in London. This was about 15% of all the recorded Russel's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Russel families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Russel 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 Russel ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Insurance Agent and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Russel. 28% of Russel men worked as an Insurance Agent and 66% of Russel women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Russel were Retired and Housewife.

View Census Data for Russel | 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

  • Insurance Agent
    28%
  • Farm Labourer
    19%
  • Gardener
    19%
  • Retired
    19%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    66%
  • Private Means
    6%
  • Housekeeper
    5%
  • Housewife
    4%

What Russel family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 166,000 census records available for the last name Russel. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Russel census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Russel

Passenger Lists

There are 10,000 immigration records available for the last name Russel. 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 Russel immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 10,000 military records available for the last name Russel. For the veterans among your Russel ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Russel military records

You've only scratched the surface of Russel family history

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What is the average Russel lifespan?

Between 1949 and 2004, in the United States, Russel life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1949, and highest in 1963. The average life expectancy for Russel in 1949 was 39, and 68 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Russel

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Russel 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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