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Rissell Family History

Rissell 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: Bissell, Rishell, Russell, Rossell, Kissell, Frissell, Cissell

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Rissell family from?

You can see how Rissell families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Rissell family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Rissell families were found in USA in 1920. In 1911 there were 4 Rissell families living in Ontario. This was about 44% of all the recorded Rissell's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Rissell families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Rissell 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 Rissell ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Housewife were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Rissell. 25% of Rissell men worked as a Laborer and 50% of Rissell women worked as a Housewife. Some less common occupations for Americans named Rissell were New Worker and Laundress.

View Census Data for Rissell | 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
    25%
  • Steel Worker
    10%
  • Foreman
    10%
  • New Worker
    10%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housewife
    50%
  • Laundress
    50%

What Rissell family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 2,000 census records available for the last name Rissell. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Rissell census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Rissell

Passenger Lists

There are 257 immigration records available for the last name Rissell. 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 Rissell immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 339 military records available for the last name Rissell. For the veterans among your Rissell ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Rissell military records

You've only scratched the surface of Rissell family history

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What is the average Rissell lifespan?

Between 1964 and 2003, in the United States, Rissell life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1996, and highest in 1986. The average life expectancy for Rissell in 1964 was 84, and 77 in 2003.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Rissell

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Rissell 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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