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Tell Family History

Tell Surname Meaning

North German: from a pet form of Dietrich. South German: topographic name from Middle High German telle ‘gorge depression’. The name of the Swiss hero Wilhelm Tell has not been explained.

North German (mainly Westphalia): topographic name from Middle Low German telg(e) ‘branch twig undergrowth’. Catalan: topographic name from tila ‘linden’ (from Latin tilia) denoting someone who lived near a conspicuous linden.

English (northern): possibly a variant of Teale. This form of the surname is rare in Britain and Ireland.

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

Similar surnames:

Dell
, Pell
, Bell
, Tull
, Well
, Toll
, Nell
, Ell
, Fell
, Hell

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Where is the Tell family from?

You can see how Tell families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Tell family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Tell families were found in USA in 1880. In 1911 there were 14 Tell families living in Alberta. This was about 33% of all the recorded Tell's in Canada. Alberta had the highest population of Tell families in 1911.

Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Tell 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 Tell family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 13,000 census records available for the last name Tell. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Tell census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

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Passenger Lists

There are 3,000 immigration records available for the last name Tell. 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.

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Draft Cards

There are 9,000 military records available for the last name Tell. For the veterans among your Tell ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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What is the average Tell lifespan?

Between 1943 and 2004, in the United States, Tell life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1943, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Tell in 1943 was 40, and 89 in 2004.

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