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Russell Family History

Russell Name Meaning

English, Scottish, and Irish: from Rousel, a commonnAnglo-Norman French nickname for someone with red hair, a diminutivenof Rouse with the hypocoristic suffix -el.n Americanized spelling of German Rüssel, from a pet formnof any of the various personal names formed with the Old High Germannelement hrod ‘renown’. EG

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


Similar surnames: Rossell, Fussell, Rundell, Trussell, Russett, Rassel, Tassell

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 Russell family from?

You can see how Russell families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Russell family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Russell families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 5,690 Russell families living in London. This was about 20% of all the recorded Russell's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Russell families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Russell 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 Russell ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Russell. 7% of Russell men worked as a General Labourer and 64% of Russell women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Russell were Incapacitated and Housewife. .

View Census Data for Russell | 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.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    7%
  • Builders Labourer
    3%
  • Bricklayer
    3%
  • Incapacitated
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    64%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Private Means
    2%
  • Housewife
    2%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Russell family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1 million census records available for the last name Russell. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Russell census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Australian census records for Russell

Passenger Lists

There are 207,000 immigration records available for the last name Russell. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Australia, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Russell immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 284,000 military records available for the last name Russell. For the veterans among your Russell ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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You've only scratched the surface of Russell family history

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What is the average Russell lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Russell life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 1999. The average life expectancy for Russell in 1940 was 57, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Russell

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