History of your Surname
Get access to Barnell family records.Start a free trial

Barnell Family History

Barnell Name Meaning

Scottish: shortened form of Barnhill . English: variant of Barnwell .

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


Similar surnames: Carnell, Parnell, Marnell, Bartell, Bagnell, Bardell, Barnwell

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 Barnell family from?

You can see how Barnell families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Barnell family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Barnell families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1840 there were 2 Barnell families living in Indiana. This was about 50% of all the recorded Barnell's in USA. Indiana had the highest population of Barnell families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Barnell surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Barnell ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Housekeeper were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Barnell. 21% of Barnell men worked as a Laborer and 14% of Barnell women worked as a Housekeeper. Some less common occupations for Americans named Barnell were Truck Driver and Teacher. .

View Census Data for Barnell | 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
    21%
  • Farmer
    15%
  • Carpenter
    6%
  • Truck Driver
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housekeeper
    14%
  • Maid
    9%
  • Housework
    9%
  • Teacher
    9%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Barnell family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 11,000 census records available for the last name Barnell. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Barnell census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Barnell

Passenger Lists

There are 917 immigration records available for the last name Barnell. 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 Barnell immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 893 military records available for the last name Barnell. For the veterans among your Barnell ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Barnell military records

You've only scratched the surface of Barnell family history

Discover More

What is the average Barnell lifespan?

Between 1961 and 2004, in the United States, Barnell life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1971, and highest in 2002. The average life expectancy for Barnell in 1961 was 56, and 78 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Barnell

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Barnell family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Barnell last name

Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial