This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Idell family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Idell Family History

Idell Surname Meaning

English: habitational name from Idle in Calverley, Yorkshire, which was named in Old English from īdel ‘idle, unused’, probably denoting an area of uncultivated land.

English: nickname from Middle English idel ‘idle, lazy’. Alternatively, from an unrecorded Middle English female personal name Idele (Old French Idele, ancient Germanic Idela), a pet form of Ide (Old French Ide; see Ide).

Jewish (Ashkenazic): from the Yiddish personal name Idl, a pet form of Jude.

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


Similar surnames: 

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Idell family from?

You can see how Idell families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Idell family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Idell families were found in USA in 1920. In 1911 there was 1 Idell family living in Ontario. This was 100% of all the recorded Idell's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Idell families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Idell surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Idell ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Maid were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Idell. 28% of Idell men worked as a Farmer and 28% of Idell women worked as a Maid. Some less common occupations for Americans named Idell were Manager and Housewife.

View Census Data for Idell | 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

  • Farmer
    28%
  • Farm Labor
    17%
  • Laborer
    14%
  • Manager
    11%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Maid
    28%
  • Teacher
    19%
  • Nurse
    19%
  • Housewife
    19%

What Idell family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 4,000 census records available for the last name Idell. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Idell census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Idell

Passenger Lists

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

Draft Cards

There are 443 military records available for the last name Idell. For the veterans among your Idell ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Idell military records

You've only scratched the surface of Idell family history

Discover More

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Idell family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial