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Wheal Family History

Wheal Surname Meaning

From Middle English wel ‘happy prosperous’ influenced perhaps by wele ‘prosperity wealth’. Wheal(e) and Wheel(e) appear to be modern re-spellings of earlier Weal(e) and Weel(e) through false association with wheal (‘pimple’) and wheel. Compare Wale with which Wheal may have been confused.

Some forms of the name without the definite article may alternatively belong under (2). For someone who lived near a deep pool (Middle English wele Old English wǣl wēl) or who came from a place so called such as Weel (ER Yorks).

For one who lived near or was in charge of a water‐wheel (Middle English whel from Old English hwēol ‘wheel’). Compare Wheelhouse.

From Middle English wevel (Old English wifel) ‘malt weevil’.

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


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Where is the Wheal family from?

You can see how Wheal families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Wheal family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Wheal families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 153 Wheal families living in Essex. This was about 46% of all the recorded Wheal's in United Kingdom. Essex had the highest population of Wheal families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Wheal 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 Wheal 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 Wheal. 32% of Wheal men worked as a General Labourer and 79% of Wheal women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Wheal were Police Constable and Household Duties (unpaid).

View Census Data for Wheal | 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
    32%
  • General Labourer (retired)
    16%
  • Farm Labourer (retired)
    11%
  • Police Constable
    11%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    79%
  • Domestic Servant
    3%
  • Incapacitated
    3%
  • Household Duties (unpaid)
    3%

What Wheal family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 9,000 census records available for the last name Wheal. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Wheal census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Wheal

Passenger Lists

There are 388 immigration records available for the last name Wheal. 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 Wheal immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 487 military records available for the last name Wheal. For the veterans among your Wheal ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Wheal military records

You've only scratched the surface of Wheal family history

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What is the average Wheal lifespan?

Between 1968 and 2001, in the United States, Wheal life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1998, and highest in 1969. The average life expectancy for Wheal in 1968 was 82, and 87 in 2001.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Wheal

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Wheal 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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