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Ritchell Family History

Ritchell 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: Mitchell, Kitchell, Gitchell, Rishell, Winchell, Ritchey, Gatchell

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Ritchell family from?

You can see how Ritchell families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Ritchell family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1841 and 1920. The most Ritchell families were found in Canada in 1911. In 1911 there were 8 Ritchell families living in British Columbia. This was about 62% of all the recorded Ritchell's in Canada. British Columbia had the highest population of Ritchell families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Ritchell 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 Ritchell ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Waitress were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Ritchell. 43% of Ritchell men worked as a Laborer and 34% of Ritchell women worked as a Waitress. Some less common occupations for Americans named Ritchell were Barber and Stenographer.

View Census Data for Ritchell | 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
    43%
  • Farmer
    29%
  • Machinist
    15%
  • Barber
    15%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Waitress
    34%
  • Helper
    34%
  • Stenographer
    34%

What Ritchell family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 710 census records available for the last name Ritchell. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Ritchell census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Ritchell

Passenger Lists

There are 119 immigration records available for the last name Ritchell. 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 Ritchell immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 85 military records available for the last name Ritchell. For the veterans among your Ritchell ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Ritchell military records

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What is the average Ritchell lifespan?

Between 1965 and 2004, in the United States, Ritchell life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1965, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Ritchell in 1965 was 58, and 93 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Ritchell

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Ritchell 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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