Tell Family History

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Tell Name Meaning

North German: from a pet form of Dietrich. South German: topographic name from Middle High German telle ‘gorge’, ‘depression’. The name of the Swiss hero Wilhelm Tell has not been explained. North German (mainly Westphalia): topographic name from Middle Low German telg(e) ‘branch’, ‘twig’, ‘undergrowth’. Catalan: topographic name from tila ‘linden’ (Latin tilia), denoting someone who lived near a conspicuous linden.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names ©2013, Oxford University Press


Similar surnames: Dell, Pell, Bell, Tull, Well, Toll, Nell, Ell, Fell, Hell

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Tell Family Origin

Where is the Tell family from?

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1840
    1920
    You can see how Tell families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Tell family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Tell families were found in the USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 2 Tell families living in Maryland. This was about 17% of all the recorded Tell's in the USA. Maryland and 2 other states had the highest population of Tell families in 1840.
    Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Tell surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

    View Census Data for Tell

    Tell Family Occupations

    What did your Tell ancestors do for a living?

    In 1880, Farmer, Laborer and Keeping House were the top 3 reported jobs worked by Tell. The most common Tell occupation in the USA was Farmer. 30% of Tell's were Farmers. A less common occupation for the Tell family was Carpenter.

    View Census data for Tell | Data not to scale

    • Farmer

      30%

    • Laborer

      14%

    • Keeping House

      4%

    • Carpenter

      3%

    Census records can tell you a lot of little known facts about your Tell ancestors, such as occupation. Occupation can tell you about your ancestor's social and economic status.

    Tell Historical Records

    What Tell family records will you find?

    Census Record

    There are 3,000 census records available for the last name Tell. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Tell census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

    Search 1940's US census records for Tell

    Passenger List

    There are 642 immigration records available for the last name Tell. 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 Tell immigration records

    Draft Card

    There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Tell. For the veterans among your Tell ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

    View all Tell military records

    You've only scratched the surface of Tell family history.

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    Tell Life Expectancy

    What is the average Tell lifespan?

    Between 1943 and 2004, in the United States, Tell life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1943, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Tell in 1943 was 40, and 89 in 2004.

    View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Tell

    An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Tell ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

    Famous Tell Family Ancestors

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