History of your Surname
Get access to Nessel family records.Start a free trial

Nessel Family History

Nessel Name Meaning

German: nickname for a waspish person from Middle High German nezzel ‘nettle’.

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


Similar surnames: Nestel, Kessel, Ressel, Nesser, Fessel, Hessel, Wessel, Lesser

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Nessel family from?

You can see how Nessel families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Nessel family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Nessel families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 3 Nessel families living in Essex. This was about 75% of all the recorded Nessel's in United Kingdom. Essex had the highest population of Nessel families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Nessel surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Nessel ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Bookkeeper were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Nessel. 15% of Nessel men worked as a Laborer and 22% of Nessel women worked as a Bookkeeper. Some less common occupations for Americans named Nessel were Machinist and Housekeeper. .

View Census Data for Nessel | 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, Canada data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    15%
  • Salesman
    13%
  • Farmer
    11%
  • Machinist
    10%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Bookkeeper
    22%
  • Stenographer
    22%
  • Clerk
    22%
  • Housekeeper
    22%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Nessel family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search Canadian census records for Nessel

Passenger Lists

There are 677 immigration records available for the last name Nessel. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Nessel immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Nessel. For the veterans among your Nessel ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Nessel military records

You've only scratched the surface of Nessel family history

Discover More

What is the average Nessel lifespan?

Between 1955 and 2004, in the United States, Nessel life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1955, and highest in 1986. The average life expectancy for Nessel in 1955 was 35, and 69 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Nessel

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Nessel family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Nessel last name

Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial