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Bretell Family History

Bretell 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: Brunell, Fretwell, Bortell, Grewell, Browell, Revell, Fredell

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Bretell family from?

You can see how Bretell families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Bretell family name was found in the USA, and the UK between 1880 and 1920. The most Bretell families were found in USA in 1880. In 1880 there were 8 Bretell families living in Missouri. This was about 57% of all the recorded Bretell's in USA. Missouri had the highest population of Bretell families in 1880.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Bretell 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 Bretell family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 241 census records available for the last name Bretell. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Bretell census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Bretell

Passenger Lists

There are 25 immigration records available for the last name Bretell. 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 Bretell immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 11 military records available for the last name Bretell. For the veterans among your Bretell ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Bretell military records

You've only scratched the surface of Bretell family history

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What is the average Bretell lifespan?

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Bretell 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.

Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Bretell

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