Tell Family History

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Tell Name 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’ (Latin tilia), denoting someone who lived near a conspicuous linden.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names ©2013, Oxford University Press


Similar surnames: Dell, Pell, Bell, Tull, Well, Toll, Nell, Ell, Fell, Hell

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Tell Family Origin

Where is the Tell family from?

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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 the 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.

View Census Data for Tell

Tell Family Occupations

What did your Tell ancestors do for a living?

In 1921, Farmer and Barbier were the top reported jobs for men and women in the CA named Tell. 24% of Tell men worked as a Farmer and 20% of Tell women worked as a Barbier. Some less common occupations for Americans named Tell were Briguetier and Servant

View Census data for Tell | Data not to scale

Top Male Occupations in 1921

  • Farmer
    24%
  • Labourer
    12%
  • Student
    12%
  • Briguetier
    6%

Top Female Occupations in 1921

  • Barbier
    20%
  • Cuisinire
    20%
  • Housewife
    20%
  • Servant
    20%

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Tell Historical Records

What Tell family records will you find?

Census Record

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.

Search 1881 Canadian census records for Tell

Passenger List

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.

View all Tell immigration records

Draft Card

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.

View all Tell military records

You've only scratched the surface of Tell family history.

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Tell Life Expectancy

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.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Tell

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Tell 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.

Famous Tell Family Ancestors

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