Explore the Family Name Pell
The meaning of Pell
1. English: from the Middle English personal name Pell, a pet form of Peter. 2. English: metonymic occupational name for a dealer in furs, from Middle English, Old French pel ‘skin’. 3. English: variant of Pill 1. 4. German:variant of Pelle or, in some instances, a variant of Pfell, the South German form of this name, from Middle High German phelle(e) ‘purple silk cloth’.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Pell in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname "Pell" saw a slight decrease between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, this surname ranked 7,116 in popularity, but fell to 7,520 by 2010, marking a negative change of 5.68%. Despite this, the count of individuals bearing this surname increased by 2.19%, growing from 4,329 to 4,424 within the same period. However, its proportion per 100k people decreased by 6.25%, moving from 1.6 in 2000 to 1.5 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #7,116 | #7,520 | -5.68% |
| Count | 4,329 | 4,424 | 2.19% |
| Proportion per 100k | 1.6 | 1.5 | -6.25% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Pell
The ethnic identity associated with the name "Pell" also shifted over this decade, as indicated by the Decennial U.S. Census data. The largest ethnic group attached to this surname is White, although the percentage dropped slightly from 93.46% in 2000 to 92.11% in 2010. The Hispanic representation increased by 37.5%, moving from 2.40% to 3.30%, while the Asian/Pacific Islander category saw a growth of 56.94%, rising from 0.72% to 1.13%. Those identifying as Two or More Races grew by 24.51%, and American Indian and Alaskan Native representation also saw a small increase of 16.22%. Only the Black ethnicity saw a decrease, dropping by 13.3% over the decade.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 93.46% | 92.11% | -1.44% |
| Hispanic | 2.4% | 3.3% | 37.5% |
| Black | 2.03% | 1.76% | -13.3% |
| Two or More Races | 1.02% | 1.27% | 24.51% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.72% | 1.13% | 56.94% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.37% | 0.43% | 16.22% |
Pell ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Pell is British & Irish, which comprises 51.2% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (21.2%) and Ashkenazi Jewish (11.7%). Additional ancestries include Scandinavian, Eastern European, Italian, Spanish & Portuguese, and Filipino & Austronesian.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 51.2% |
| French & German | 21.2% |
| Ashkenazi Jewish | 11.7% |
| Other | 15.9% |
Possible origins of the surname Pell
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Pell have recent ancestry locations all within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Tyne And Wear, United Kingdom | 82.70% |
| West Yorkshire, United Kingdom | 82.70% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 82.70% |
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 82.70% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 82.70% |
What Pell haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Pell is R-CTS241, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-CTS241 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include I-Z138 and R-P311, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Seal, Butcher, Rollins, Haskins, Lloyd, Powell, Jones, Cruse, Bray, Morgan.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Pell surname are: H1, T2b, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Pell have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Pell" Surname 42.1%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Pell" Surname 22.0%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Pell" Surname 19.3%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Pell" Surname 28.0%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Pell?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Pell are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition