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Bells Family History

Bells Name Meaning

English: variant of Bell with genitival or excrescent -s.

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


Similar surnames: Bell, Belle, Bello, Wells, Bellas, Bella, Bellis, Mells, Belles

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Bells family from?

You can see how Bells families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Bells family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Bells families were found in USA in 1920. In 1840 there were 6 Bells families living in Ohio. This was about 32% of all the recorded Bells's in USA. Ohio had the highest population of Bells families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Bells surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Bells ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Maid were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Bells. 25% of Bells men worked as a Laborer and 12% of Bells women worked as a Maid. Some less common occupations for Americans named Bells were Salesman and Servant. .

View Census Data for Bells | 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 1940

  • Laborer
    25%
  • Farmer
    15%
  • Truck Driver
    6%
  • Salesman
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Maid
    12%
  • Clerk
    11%
  • Cook
    8%
  • Servant
    7%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Bells family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 12,000 census records available for the last name Bells. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Bells census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Bells

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Bells. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Bells immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Bells. For the veterans among your Bells ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Bells military records

You've only scratched the surface of Bells family history

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What is the average Bells lifespan?

Between 1962 and 2004, in the United States, Bells life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1994, and highest in 1970. The average life expectancy for Bells in 1962 was 65, and 65 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Bells

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Bells family tree

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