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Ethel Family History

Ethel Name Meaning

Welsh: from the personal name Ithell Middle Welsh Ithael. See Bethel .

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


Similar surnames: Etzel, Bethel, Ettel, Ethen, Pethel, Engel, Eitel, Esther, Edel

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 Ethel family from?

You can see how Ethel families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Ethel family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Ethel families were found in USA in 1920. In 1840 there were 3 Ethel families living in Virginia. This was about 50% of all the recorded Ethel's in USA. Virginia had the highest population of Ethel families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Ethel surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Ethel ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Housekeeper were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Ethel. 35% of Ethel men worked as a Laborer and 18% of Ethel women worked as a Housekeeper. Some less common occupations for Americans named Ethel were Teacher and Maid. .

View Census Data for Ethel | 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
    35%
  • Farmer
    25%
  • Truck Driver
    22%
  • Teacher
    7%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housekeeper
    18%
  • Teacher
    15%
  • Housewife
    13%
  • Maid
    10%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Ethel family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 14,000 census records available for the last name Ethel. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Ethel census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Ethel

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Ethel. 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 Ethel immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 340 military records available for the last name Ethel. For the veterans among your Ethel ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Ethel military records

You've only scratched the surface of Ethel family history

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What is the average Ethel lifespan?

Between 1967 and 2002, in the United States, Ethel life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1972, and highest in 2000. The average life expectancy for Ethel in 1967 was 83, and 91 in 2002.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Ethel

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Ethel family tree

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