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Marvell Family History

Marvell Name Meaning

English (of Norman origin):: nickname from Old French merveil ‘marvellous wonderful’ or merveille ‘marvel miracle’. habitational name from either of two places in northern France called Merville (in Nord and Somme).

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


Similar surnames: Marvel, Harvell, Martell, Carvell, Marcell, Marnell, Markell, Mansell

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 Marvell family from?

You can see how Marvell families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Marvell family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Marvell families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1840 there were 5 Marvell families living in Massachusetts. This was about 45% of all the recorded Marvell's in USA. Massachusetts had the highest population of Marvell families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Marvell surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Marvell ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Seamstress were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Marvell. 46% of Marvell men worked as a Farmer and 43% of Marvell women worked as a Seamstress. Some less common occupations for Americans named Marvell were Proprietor and Housekeeper. .

View Census Data for Marvell | 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

  • Farmer
    46%
  • Laborer
    25%
  • Salesman
    13%
  • Proprietor
    9%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Seamstress
    43%
  • Teacher
    29%
  • Housekeeper
    29%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Marvell family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 6,000 census records available for the last name Marvell. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Marvell census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Marvell

Passenger Lists

There are 397 immigration records available for the last name Marvell. 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.

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Draft Cards

There are 479 military records available for the last name Marvell. For the veterans among your Marvell ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Marvell military records

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What is the average Marvell lifespan?

Between 1958 and 2003, in the United States, Marvell life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1969, and highest in 1998. The average life expectancy for Marvell in 1958 was 39, and 84 in 2003.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Marvell

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Marvell family tree

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