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Odel Family History

Odel Surname Meaning

Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland.


Similar surnames: Oder, Godel, Edel, Model, Orel, Odell, Adel, Oden, Ode, Hodel

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Odel family from?

You can see how Odel families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Odel family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Odel families were found in USA in 1880. In 1911 there were 5 Odel families living in Ontario. This was about 83% of all the recorded Odel's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Odel families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Odel 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 Odel ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Maid were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Odel. 36% of Odel men worked as a Laborer and 50% of Odel women worked as a Maid. Some less common occupations for Americans named Odel were Soldier and Stenographer.

View Census Data for Odel | 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
    36%
  • Farmer
    30%
  • Labor
    25%
  • Soldier
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Maid
    50%
  • Stenographer
    50%

What Odel family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 4,000 census records available for the last name Odel. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Odel census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Odel

Passenger Lists

There are 119 immigration records available for the last name Odel. 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 Odel immigration records

Draft Cards

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

View all Odel military records

You've only scratched the surface of Odel family history

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What is the average Odel lifespan?

Between 1968 and 2004, in the United States, Odel life expectancy was at its lowest point in 2000, and highest in 1986. The average life expectancy for Odel in 1968 was 65, and 80 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Odel

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Odel 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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