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Markel Family History

Markel Name Meaning

German (also Märkel): variant of Markl 1 and in North America (also) an altered form of this. Jewish (Ashkenazic; also Märkel): derivative of two personal names Latin Marcus (compare 3 below) and German Markward (see Markwardt ) + the Yiddish hypocoristic suffix -l. The Yiddish personal names Markl and /Merkl were both used by Jews as vernacular equivalents of the closely sounding Biblical name Mordecai . Americanized form of Slovenian Markelj or its variant Markl from a hypocoristic derivative of the personal name Marko Latin Marcus. Possibly also an American shortened form of Slovenian Markelc or Markeljc: patronymic or diminutive of the personal name Markelj (see 3 above). English (Staffordshire): probably a shortened form of Markley . This surname is very rare in Britain.

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


Similar surnames: Martel, Marker, Merkel, Mackel, Marvel, Marko, Marek, Marcel, Marken

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Markel family from?

You can see how Markel families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Markel family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Markel families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 19 Markel families living in Pennsylvania. This was about 49% of all the recorded Markel's in USA. Pennsylvania had the highest population of Markel families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Markel surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
  • 1840
  • 1880
  • 1920
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What did your Markel ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Clerk were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Markel. 19% of Markel men worked as a Laborer and 10% of Markel women worked as a Clerk. Some less common occupations for Americans named Markel were Carpenter and Seamstress. .

View Census Data for Markel | 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
    19%
  • Farmer
    15%
  • Salesman
    6%
  • Carpenter
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Clerk
    10%
  • Housewife
    10%
  • Saleslady
    8%
  • Seamstress
    8%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Markel family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 17,000 census records available for the last name Markel. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Markel census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Markel

Passenger Lists

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

Draft Cards

There are 4,000 military records available for the last name Markel. For the veterans among your Markel ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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What is the average Markel lifespan?

Between 1948 and 2004, in the United States, Markel life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1952, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Markel in 1948 was 45, and 80 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Markel

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