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Benlay Family History

Benlay Surname Meaning

Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland.


Similar surnames: Benway, Belay, Henley, Berley, Bentley, Begley, Bena, Tenley, Belan

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Benlay family from?

You can see how Benlay families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Benlay family name was found in the USA, and Scotland between 1861 and 1920. The most Benlay families were found in USA in 1920. In 1861 there was 1 Benlay family living in Angus. This was about 50% of all the recorded Benlay's in Scotland. Angus and 1 other county had the highest population of Benlay families in 1861.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Benlay surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
  • 1861
  • 1871
  • 1891
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What Benlay family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 52 census records available for the last name Benlay. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Benlay census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Benlay

Passenger Lists

There are 15 immigration records available for the last name Benlay. 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 Benlay immigration records

Draft Cards

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

View all Benlay military records

You've only scratched the surface of Benlay family history

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What is the average Benlay lifespan?

Average Benlay life expectancy in 1977 was 67 years. This was lower than the general public life expectancy which was 70.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Benlay

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Benlay 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.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Benlay family tree

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