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Onley Family History

Onley Name Meaning

English: habitational name from any of the places called Onley in Barby and in Silverstone (both in Northamptonshire) or Onneley in Madeley (Staffordshire). Olney in Silverstone and Onneley in Madeley probably derive from Old English ān(a) ‘one single solitary’ + lēah ‘woodland clearing’. Onley in Barby may have the same etymological origin but may also derive from the Old English personal name Ona + Old English lēah.

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


Similar surnames: Osley, Oxley, Olney, Hanley, Tenley, Manley, Ogle, Ousley, Comley

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Where is the Onley family from?

You can see how Onley families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Onley family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Onley families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 91 Onley families living in London. This was about 28% of all the recorded Onley's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Onley families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Onley surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Onley ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Onley. 20% of Onley men worked as a General Labourer and 78% of Onley women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Onley were Old Age Pensioner and Unpaid Domestic. .

View Census Data for Onley | 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

  • General Labourer
    20%
  • Carpenter joiner
    14%
  • Plumber
    14%
  • Old Age Pensioner
    14%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    78%
  • Housekeeper
    5%
  • Private Means
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Onley family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 13,000 census records available for the last name Onley. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Onley census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Onley

Passenger Lists

There are 867 immigration records available for the last name Onley. 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 Onley immigration records

Draft Cards

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

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What is the average Onley lifespan?

Between 1948 and 2004, in the United States, Onley life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1948, and highest in 1998. The average life expectancy for Onley in 1948 was 31, and 79 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Onley

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