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Paisley Family History

Paisley Name Meaning

Scottish: habitational name from Paisley (Renfrewshire) which is recorded as Passelek in 1298. The placename derives from Middle Irish baslec ‘church’. This name has been established in Ulster since the 17th century.

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


Similar surnames: Pasley, Daisley, Bailey, Paley, Parsley, Ansley, Lapsley, Haisley

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Paisley family from?

You can see how Paisley families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Paisley family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Paisley families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 81 Paisley families living in Lancashire. This was about 24% of all the recorded Paisley's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Paisley families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Paisley surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Paisley 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 Paisley. 34% of Paisley men worked as a General Labourer and 75% of Paisley women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Paisley were Colliery Hewer (below and Domestic Servant. .

View Census Data for Paisley | 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
    34%
  • Bricklayer
    14%
  • Farmer
    14%
  • Colliery Hewer (below
    14%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    75%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    4%
  • Housekeeper
    3%
  • Domestic Servant
    3%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Paisley family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 26,000 census records available for the last name Paisley. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Paisley census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Paisley

Passenger Lists

There are 4,000 immigration records available for the last name Paisley. 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 Paisley immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 4,000 military records available for the last name Paisley. For the veterans among your Paisley ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Paisley military records

You've only scratched the surface of Paisley family history

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What is the average Paisley lifespan?

Between 1943 and 2004, in the United States, Paisley life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1943, and highest in 1976. The average life expectancy for Paisley in 1943 was 25, and 78 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Paisley

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