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Rathwell Family History

Rathwell 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: Rothwell, Rathmell, Ashwell, Bothwell, Rothell, Cashwell, Atwell

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Rathwell family from?

You can see how Rathwell families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Rathwell family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Rathwell families were found in Canada in 1911. In 1911 there were 284 Rathwell families living in Ontario. This was about 76% of all the recorded Rathwell's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Rathwell families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Rathwell 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 Rathwell ancestors do for a living?

In 1921, Farmer and Farmer were the top reported jobs for men and women in the Canada named Rathwell. 69% of Rathwell men worked as a Farmer and 43% of Rathwell women worked as a Farmer. Some less common occupations for Americans named Rathwell were Farmer R and Student.

View Census Data for Rathwell | 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
    69%
  • Farmers Son
    10%
  • Income
    4%
  • Farmer R
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1921

  • Farmer
    43%
  • Milliner
    29%
  • Student
    29%

What Rathwell family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 7,000 census records available for the last name Rathwell. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Rathwell census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Rathwell

Passenger Lists

There are 803 immigration records available for the last name Rathwell. 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 Rathwell immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 284 military records available for the last name Rathwell. For the veterans among your Rathwell ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Rathwell military records

You've only scratched the surface of Rathwell family history

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What is the average Rathwell lifespan?

Between 1962 and 2003, in the United States, Rathwell life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1998, and highest in 1969. The average life expectancy for Rathwell in 1962 was 60, and 64 in 2003.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Rathwell

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Rathwell 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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