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Askell Family History

Askell Surname Meaning

From the Middle English personal name Askell, derived from the Old Scandinavian Áskell, the name is a shortened form of Ásketill (see Ashkettle and Axtell). The personal name was also popular among the Normans as Asketill and Anskell, with Continental Germanic Ans- substituted for As-. This explains why the names occur in post-Conquest England in counties not settled by Vikings.

Its appearance as a surname is often disguised by altered pronunciations. Metathesis of /sk/ to /ks/, spelled -x-, has given rise to Axcell and Axtell, while the addition of a prosthetic H- has produced Haskell and Haxell. The Normans frequently used the name in Frankish forms.

Some of the variants include Anketell, Askin, Haskin, Antin, Hastie, Astin, and Astill. For the name in the Isle of Man, see Castell.

This is a reduced form of McAskill, which is based on the same Scandinavian personal name as previously mentioned.

Source: The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland, 2016


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Where is the Askell family from?

You can see how Askell families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Askell family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1880 and 1920. The most Askell families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1911 there were 3 Askell families living in Nova Scotia. This was about 75% of all the recorded Askell's in Canada. Nova Scotia had the highest population of Askell families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Askell 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 Askell ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Unpaid Domestic Duties was the top reported job for people in the United Kingdom named Askell. 88% of Askell women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Askell | 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.

England shown, Canada data unavailable

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    88%
  • Caretaker
    13%

What Askell family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1,000 census records available for the last name Askell. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Askell census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Askell

Passenger Lists

There are 189 immigration records available for the last name Askell. 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 Askell immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 123 military records available for the last name Askell. For the veterans among your Askell ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Askell military records

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What is the average Askell lifespan?

Between 1966 and 1986, in the United States, Askell life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1986, and highest in 1966. The average life expectancy for Askell in 1966 was 72, and 69 in 1986.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Askell

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Askell 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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