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Orell Family History

Orell Name Meaning

Catalan and Swiss German: from a personal name derived from the Latin name Aurelius (see Aurelio ). English (Lancashire): variant of Orrell . Swedish: ornamental name from an unexplained first element (possibly from a placename) + the suffix -ell a derivative of the Latin adjectival ending -elius. In some cases also an Americanized form of Slovenian Orel ‘eagle’ or of the Serbian cognate Orelj which is derived from an adjectival form of orao ‘eagle’.

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


Similar surnames: Torell, Orrell, Morell, Rosell, Krell, Korell, Norell, Orel, Corell

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Orell family from?

You can see how Orell families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Orell family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Orell families were found in USA in 1880. In 1911 there were 4 Orell families living in Saskatchewan. This was about 44% of all the recorded Orell's in Canada. Saskatchewan had the highest population of Orell families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Orell surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Orell ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Housewife were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Orell. 32% of Orell men worked as a Laborer and 24% of Orell women worked as a Housewife. Some less common occupations for Americans named Orell were Farmer and Operator. .

View Census Data for Orell | 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%
  • Clerk
    25%
  • Salesman
    19%
  • Farmer
    13%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housewife
    24%
  • Maid
    16%
  • Housekeeper
    16%
  • Operator
    16%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Orell family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 2,000 census records available for the last name Orell. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Orell census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Orell

Passenger Lists

There are 513 immigration records available for the last name Orell. 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 637 military records available for the last name Orell. For the veterans among your Orell ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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What is the average Orell lifespan?

Between 1962 and 2003, in the United States, Orell life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1978, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for Orell in 1962 was 82, and 91 in 2003.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Orell

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