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Semel Family History

Semel Name Meaning

Jewish (Ashkenazic): variant of Semmel .

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


Similar surnames: Zemel, Segel, Samel, Shimel, Seger, Semmel, Hamel, Kimel, Somer

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 Semel family from?

You can see how Semel families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Semel family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Semel families were found in USA in 1920. In 1840 there were 8 Semel families living in Pennsylvania. This was about 80% of all the recorded Semel's in USA. Pennsylvania had the highest population of Semel families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Semel surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Semel ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Salesman and Bookkeeper were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Semel. 21% of Semel men worked as a Salesman and 34% of Semel women worked as a Bookkeeper. Some less common occupations for Americans named Semel were Painter and New Worker. .

View Census Data for Semel | 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

  • Salesman
    21%
  • Laborer
    13%
  • Clerk
    13%
  • Painter
    11%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Bookkeeper
    34%
  • Stenographer
    25%
  • Teacher
    25%
  • New Worker
    17%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Semel family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 2,000 census records available for the last name Semel. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Semel census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Semel

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Semel. 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 Semel immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 420 military records available for the last name Semel. For the veterans among your Semel ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Semel military records

You've only scratched the surface of Semel family history

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What is the average Semel lifespan?

Between 1956 and 2004, in the United States, Semel life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1956, and highest in 1997. The average life expectancy for Semel in 1956 was 44, and 69 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Semel

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Semel family tree

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