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Russell Family History

Russell Name Meaning

English Scottish and Irish: of Norman origin from Old French and Anglo-Norman French r(o)ussel a diminutive of Old French rous(e) ‘red reddish’ used either as a nickname for someone with red hair or a ruddy complexion or as a personal name. Compare Rouse . This Norman name has been established in Ireland since the 12th century. It has been reinforced in Britain and Ireland by Huguenot bearers of the name Roussel of the same Old French origin. English: habitational name from any of several places called Rushall (Norfolk Staffordshire Wiltshire) or possibly sometimes from Rusthall in Speldhurst (Kent). Rushall in Staffordshire derives from Old English rysc ‘rush rushes’ + halh ‘nook corner of land’. Rushall in Norfolk derives from an uncertain first element + Old English halh. Rushall in Wiltshire derives from an Old English personal name Rust (genitive Rustes) + halh. Rusthall in Speldhurst (Kent) probably derives from Old English rust ‘rust rust color’ + wella ‘well spring stream’ but with a change in the final element due to influence from Middle English Old English hall ‘hall residence’ perhaps referring to a nearby building. Americanized form of German Rüssel: from a pet form of any of various personal names formed with the ancient Germanic element hrōd ‘fame renown’. In some cases also an Americanized form (actually an adoption of the name in 1 or 2 above) of French Racine .

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


Similar surnames: Rossell, Fussell, Rundell, Trussell, Russett, Rassel, Tassell

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Where is the Russell family from?

You can see how Russell families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Russell family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Russell families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 409 Russell families living in New York. This was about 15% of all the recorded Russell's in USA. New York had the highest population of Russell families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Russell surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Russell ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Housekeeper were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Russell. 15% of Russell men worked as a Laborer and 7% of Russell women worked as a Housekeeper. Some less common occupations for Americans named Russell were Truck Driver and Maid. .

View Census Data for Russell | 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
    15%
  • Farmer
    14%
  • Salesman
    5%
  • Truck Driver
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housekeeper
    7%
  • Housewife
    6%
  • Teacher
    6%
  • Maid
    6%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Russell family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1 million census records available for the last name Russell. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Russell census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

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Passenger Lists

There are 207,000 immigration records available for the last name Russell. 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 284,000 military records available for the last name Russell. For the veterans among your Russell ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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What is the average Russell lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Russell life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 1999. The average life expectancy for Russell in 1940 was 57, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Russell

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