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Clays Family History

Clays Surname Meaning

From The Clays in Spurstow (Cheshire) recorded from the 14th century. The place-name derives from a plural form of Old English clǣg ‘clay clayey soil’ and evidently alluded to an area of clayey places. This is a variant of Clay with Middle English plural -s or post-medieval excrescent -s. Compare Stephen Clay 1334-5 in Subsidy Rolls (Faversham Kent) with the 1381 example of Cleys in Canterbury (8 miles away). Some early bearers might otherwise belong at (3).

From the Middle Dutch personal name Klaas Claes a pet form of Niklaas (see Nicholas). It is not known how many of the Dutch immigrants who swore oaths of loyalty to the king or who were taxed by him settled permanently in 15th-century England. Compare Clayson.

From Clies in Mawgan in Meneage (Cornwall), the place-name derives from Cornish *cleys ‘trench groove’.

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


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Where is the Clays family from?

You can see how Clays families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Clays family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Clays families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 69 Clays families living in Cheshire. This was about 69% of all the recorded Clays's in United Kingdom. Cheshire had the highest population of Clays families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Clays 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 Clays ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Railway Engine Driver and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Clays. 50% of Clays men worked as a Railway Engine Driver and 83% of Clays women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Clays were Postman and Unpaid Domestic Worker.

View Census Data for Clays | 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

  • Railway Engine Driver
    50%
  • Postman
    50%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    83%
  • Unpaid Domestic Dutie
    7%
  • Cook
    7%
  • Unpaid Domestic Worker
    5%

What Clays family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 2,000 census records available for the last name Clays. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Clays census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Clays

Passenger Lists

There are 785 immigration records available for the last name Clays. 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.

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Draft Cards

There are 577 military records available for the last name Clays. For the veterans among your Clays ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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What is the average Clays lifespan?

Between 1954 and 2002, in the United States, Clays life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1954, and highest in 1967. The average life expectancy for Clays in 1954 was 52, and 84 in 2002.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Clays

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Clays 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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