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

Biel Family History

Biel Name Meaning

Polish and Czech; Slovak (also Bieľ): nickname for a white- or fair-haired man derived from Polish biały (noun biel) Old Czech bielý Slovak biely ‘white’. German: variant of Biehl .

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


Similar surnames: Kiel, Biehl, Biela, Briel, Bihl, Bien, Bel, Bier, Bisel, Viel

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 Biel family from?

You can see how Biel families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Biel family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Biel families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 2 Biel families living in Pennsylvania. This was about 50% of all the recorded Biel's in USA. Pennsylvania had the highest population of Biel families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Biel surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Biel ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Stenographer were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Biel. 24% of Biel men worked as a Farmer and 17% of Biel women worked as a Stenographer. Some less common occupations for Americans named Biel were Clerk and Assembler. .

View Census Data for Biel | 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
    24%
  • Laborer
    11%
  • Salesman
    10%
  • Clerk
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Stenographer
    17%
  • Teacher
    10%
  • Clerk
    7%
  • Assembler
    7%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Biel family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 8,000 census records available for the last name Biel. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Biel census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Biel

Passenger Lists

There are 3,000 immigration records available for the last name Biel. 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 Biel immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 2,000 military records available for the last name Biel. For the veterans among your Biel ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Biel military records

You've only scratched the surface of Biel family history

Discover More

What is the average Biel lifespan?

Between 1957 and 2004, in the United States, Biel life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1960, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Biel in 1957 was 51, and 83 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Biel

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Biel family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Biel last name

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