This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Bottomley family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Bottomley Family History

Bottomley Surname Meaning

English (Yorkshire and Lancashire): habitational name from a place in Yorkshire named Bottomley.

It is derived from Old English botm ‘valley bottom’.

The second part of the name comes from lēah ‘woodland clearing’.

This indicates a geographical feature that was significant in the naming of the location.

Overall, the name reflects the landscape and environment of the area where it originated.

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


Similar surnames

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Bottomley family from?

You can see how Bottomley families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Bottomley family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Bottomley families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 3,278 Bottomley families living in Yorkshire. This was about 64% of all the recorded Bottomley's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Bottomley families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Bottomley surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Bottomley 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 Bottomley. 11% of Bottomley men worked as a General Labourer and 68% of Bottomley women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Bottomley were Retired and Household Duties.

View Census Data for Bottomley | 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
    11%
  • Incapacitated
    4%
  • Cotton Weaver
    4%
  • Retired
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    68%
  • Private Means
    2%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    2%
  • Household Duties
    2%

What Bottomley family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 118,000 census records available for the last name Bottomley. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Bottomley census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Bottomley

Passenger Lists

There are 7,000 immigration records available for the last name Bottomley. 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 Bottomley immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 5,000 military records available for the last name Bottomley. For the veterans among your Bottomley ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Bottomley military records

You've only scratched the surface of Bottomley family history

Discover More

What is the average Bottomley lifespan?

Between 1948 and 2004, in the United States, Bottomley life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1948, and highest in 1962. The average life expectancy for Bottomley in 1948 was 36, and 73 in 2004.

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Bottomley 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 Bottomley family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial