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Knell Family History

Knell Name Meaning

English (Kent): topographic name from Middle English knelle knille ‘knoll hill hilltop’ (Old English cnyll(e)) for someone who lived at or near a knoll or from a place so named such as Knell House in Goring (Sussex). Compare Knill Knoll . South German: from Middle High German knellen ‘to cause to explode snap one's fingers’ hence a nickname for a noisy loud-mouthed person or in Swabia and Bavaria for someone who cursed a lot.

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

Similar surnames: Knoll, Nell, Kell, Dell, Snell, Krell, Hell, Knoell, Keil, Kiehl

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Where is the Knell family from?

You can see how Knell families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Knell family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Knell families were found in USA in 1880. In 1911 there were 6 Knell families living in Ontario. This was 100% of all the recorded Knell's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Knell families in 1911.

Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Knell surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

View Census Data for Knell

What did your Knell ancestors do for a living?

View Census Data for Knell | Data not to scale

United States shown, Canada data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

Farmer
15%
Laborer
13%
Salesman
11%
Truck Driver
6%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

Stenographer
14%
Saleslady
9%
Teacher
7%
Nurse
7%

Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Knell family records will you find?

Census Records
There are 22,000 census records available for the last name Knell. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Knell census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.
Search Canadian census records for Knell
Passenger Lists
There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Knell. 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 Knell immigration records
Draft Cards
There are 2,000 military records available for the last name Knell. For the veterans among your Knell ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.
View all Knell military records

Census Records

There are 22,000 census records available for the last name Knell. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Knell census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Knell

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Knell. 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 Knell immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 2,000 military records available for the last name Knell. For the veterans among your Knell ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Knell military records

You've only scratched the surface of Knell family history

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What is the average Knell lifespan?

Between 1950 and 2004, in the United States, Knell life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1956, and highest in 1983. The average life expectancy for Knell in 1950 was 45, and 83 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Knell

Browse profiles of historical people with the Knell last name