Knell Family History

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Knell Name Meaning

English: topographic name for someone living by a knoll or hilltop, from Middle English knelle (Old English cnyll(e), cnell(e), a derivative of Old English cnoll), or a habitational name from a minor place named with this word, for example Knell or Knelle in Sussex. South German: from Middle High German knellen ‘to cause to explode’, ‘to snap one’s fingers’, hence a nickname for a noisy, loud-mouthed person, or in Swabia and Bavaria for someone who cursed a lot.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names ©2013, Oxford University Press


Similar surnames: Knoll, Nell, Kell, Dell, Snell, Krell, Hell, Knoell, Keil, Kiehl

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Knell Family Origin

Where is the Knell family from?

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You can see how Knell families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Knell family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Knell families were found in the USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 167 Knell families living in Kent. This was about 39% of all the recorded Knell's in the UK. Kent had the highest population of Knell families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Knell surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

View Census Data for Knell

Knell Family Occupations

What did your Knell ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Builders Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the UK named Knell. 12% of Knell men worked as a Builders Labourer and 80% of Knell women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Knell were Clerk and Unpaid Household Duties

View Census data for Knell | Data not to scale

Top Male Occupations in 1939

  • Builders Labourer
    12%
  • Plasterer
    10%
  • General Labourer Heavy Worker
    7%
  • Clerk
    7%

Top Female Occupations in 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    80%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    4%
  • Private Means
    3%
  • Unpaid Household Duties
    3%

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Knell Historical Records

What Knell family records will you find?

Census Record

There are 22,000 census records available for the last name Knell. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Knell census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Knell

Passenger List

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Knell. 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 Knell immigration records

Draft Card

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

View all Knell military records

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Knell Life Expectancy

What is the average Knell lifespan?

Between 1950 and 2004, in the United States, Knell life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1956, and highest in 1983. The average life expectancy for Knell in 1950 was 45, and 83 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Knell

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Knell 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.

Famous Knell Family Ancestors

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