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Darley Family History

Darley Surname Meaning

English: habitational name from one or more of the places called Darley such as Darley Hall in Worsborough and Darley in Menwith cum Darley (Yorkshire). Darley (alias Darley Dale) near Bakewell and Darley Abbey (both Derbyshire) are also notable locations. Darley Hall in Over by Middlewich (Cheshire), a lost Derleigh in Little Bromley (Essex), Durley (Hampshire), and Durleigh (Somerset) are part of this naming tradition.

From Old English dēor ‘beast deer’ + lēah ‘woodland clearing’, the name reflects the geographical features of the areas. The combination of these elements indicates a connection to nature and specific landscapes found in England.

This surname was taken to Ireland in the 17th century, indicating migration patterns and the spread of names across regions. Over time, such names have become part of local histories and genealogies.

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


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Where is the Darley family from?

You can see how Darley families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Darley family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Darley families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 613 Darley families living in Yorkshire. This was about 35% of all the recorded Darley's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Darley families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Darley 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 Darley ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Incapacitated and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Darley. 8% of Darley men worked as an Incapacitated and 67% of Darley women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Darley were Retired and Housekeeper.

View Census Data for Darley | 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

  • Incapacitated
    8%
  • General Labourer
    7%
  • Bricklayer
    7%
  • Retired
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    67%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Private Means
    3%
  • Housekeeper
    2%

What Darley family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 43,000 census records available for the last name Darley. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Darley census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Darley

Passenger Lists

There are 6,000 immigration records available for the last name Darley. 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 Darley immigration records

Draft Cards

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

View all Darley military records

You've only scratched the surface of Darley family history

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What is the average Darley lifespan?

Between 1959 and 2004, in the United States, Darley life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1961, and highest in 1996. The average life expectancy for Darley in 1959 was 57, and 65 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Darley

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Darley 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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