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Belsey Family History

Belsey Surname Meaning

From one or more of the numerous places called Belasis or similar such as Bellasis (Northumb), Bellasize (ER Yorks), Belasis in Billingham, and Bellasis in Durham (both Durham), Belsize Park in Hampstead (Middx), Belsize Farm in Castor (Northants), Belsize Farm in Watford (Herts), and Belsars Field in Willingham (Cambs).

All these names are from Anglo-Norman French bel ‘beautiful’ + assis ‘seat, residence’. Perhaps also from Belsay in Bolam (Northumb) which is recorded as Bilesho in 1162, Beleshowe in 1255, and Belsey in 166.

The post-medieval bearers given here may alternatively belong to (1).

Source: The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland, 2016


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Where is the Belsey family from?

You can see how Belsey families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Belsey family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Belsey families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 305 Belsey families living in Kent. This was about 63% of all the recorded Belsey's in United Kingdom. Kent had the highest population of Belsey families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Belsey 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 Belsey ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Builders Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Belsey. 20% of Belsey men worked as a Builders Labourer and 79% of Belsey women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Belsey were Bricklayer Heavy Worker and Housewife.

View Census Data for Belsey | 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

  • Builders Labourer
    20%
  • Farmworker
    14%
  • General Labourer
    14%
  • Bricklayer Heavy Worker
    10%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    79%
  • Housekeeper
    6%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    4%
  • Housewife
    2%

What Belsey family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 10,000 census records available for the last name Belsey. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Belsey census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Belsey

Passenger Lists

There are 812 immigration records available for the last name Belsey. 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 Belsey immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 611 military records available for the last name Belsey. For the veterans among your Belsey ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Belsey military records

You've only scratched the surface of Belsey family history

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What is the average Belsey lifespan?

Between 1966 and 2004, in the United States, Belsey life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1979, and highest in 1994. The average life expectancy for Belsey in 1966 was 77, and 83 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Belsey

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Belsey ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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