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Odonnell Family History

Odonnell Surname Meaning

Irish (Donegal Munster): Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Domhnaill ‘descendant of Domhnall’ an old personal name composed of the Celtic elements domno- ‘world’ + val- ‘might rule’.

Compare the Anglicized form Donald and the Scottish clan name McDonald.

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


Similar surnames: 

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Where is the Odonnell family from?

You can see how Odonnell families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Odonnell family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Odonnell families were found in USA in 1920. In 1911 there were 327 Odonnell families living in Ontario. This was about 39% of all the recorded Odonnell's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Odonnell families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Odonnell 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 Odonnell ancestors do for a living?

In 1921, Farmer and Housekeeper were the top reported jobs for men and women in the Canada named Odonnell. 50% of Odonnell men worked as a Farmer and 25% of Odonnell women worked as a Housekeeper. Some less common occupations for Americans named Odonnell were Clerk and Clerk.

View Census Data for Odonnell | 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 1921

  • Farmer
    50%
  • Labourer
    16%
  • Laborer
    12%
  • Clerk
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1921

  • Housekeeper
    25%
  • Book Keeper
    25%
  • Stenographer
    25%
  • Clerk
    25%

What Odonnell family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 298,000 census records available for the last name Odonnell. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Odonnell census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Odonnell

Passenger Lists

There are 74,000 immigration records available for the last name Odonnell. 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 Odonnell immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 60,000 military records available for the last name Odonnell. For the veterans among your Odonnell ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Odonnell military records

You've only scratched the surface of Odonnell family history

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What is the average Odonnell lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Odonnell life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1945, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for Odonnell in 1940 was 41, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Odonnell

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Odonnell 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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