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Nichels Family History

Nichels 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: Nichols, Michels, Nickels, Nicholas, Michel, Eichel, Sichel, Nuckels

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Nichels family from?

You can see how Nichels families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Nichels family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1840 and 1920. The most Nichels families were found in USA in 1880. In 1911 there were 20 Nichels families living in Ontario. This was about 71% of all the recorded Nichels's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Nichels families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Nichels 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 Nichels ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Teacher were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Nichels. 32% of Nichels men worked as a Laborer and 15% of Nichels women worked as a Teacher. Some less common occupations for Americans named Nichels were Truck Driver and Clerk.

View Census Data for Nichels | 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
    32%
  • Farmer
    19%
  • Clerk
    6%
  • Truck Driver
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Teacher
    15%
  • Saleslady
    15%
  • Maid
    15%
  • Clerk
    11%

What Nichels family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 3,000 census records available for the last name Nichels. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Nichels census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Nichels

Passenger Lists

There are 355 immigration records available for the last name Nichels. 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 Nichels immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 267 military records available for the last name Nichels. For the veterans among your Nichels ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Nichels military records

You've only scratched the surface of Nichels family history

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What is the average Nichels lifespan?

Between 1968 and 2001, in the United States, Nichels life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1986, and highest in 1993. The average life expectancy for Nichels in 1968 was 76, and 37 in 2001.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Nichels

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Nichels 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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