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Niles Family History

Niles Name Meaning

English: variant of Nile (see Neal ) with post-medieval excrescent -s. German: possibly a variant of Neils . The surname Niles is very rare in Germany.

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


Similar surnames: Miles, Nies, Giles, Nilges, Eales, Wiles, Nile, Iles, Files, Viles

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 Niles family from?

You can see how Niles families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Niles family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Niles families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 32 Niles families living in London. This was about 17% of all the recorded Niles's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Niles families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Niles surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Niles ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Retired and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Niles. 67% of Niles men worked as a Retired and 88% of Niles women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Niles were Hospital Assistant Steward and Domestic Servant. .

View Census Data for Niles | 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 1939

  • Retired
    67%
  • Hospital Assistant Steward
    34%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    88%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    5%
  • Laundress
    5%
  • Domestic Servant
    5%
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What Niles family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 64,000 census records available for the last name Niles. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Niles census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Niles

Passenger Lists

There are 6,000 immigration records available for the last name Niles. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Niles immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 16,000 military records available for the last name Niles. For the veterans among your Niles ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Niles military records

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What is the average Niles lifespan?

Between 1945 and 2004, in the United States, Niles life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1945, and highest in 2001. The average life expectancy for Niles in 1945 was 27, and 77 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Niles

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