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Fairlie Family History

Fairlie Surname Meaning

Scottish: habitational name from any of several places in Scotland so called (see Fairley).

Possibly also an Americanized form of South German Fährle.

Värli: metonymic occupational name for a hog farmer from a diminutive of Middle High German varch ‘pig piglet’.

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


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Fairlie family from?

You can see how Fairlie families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Fairlie family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1841 and 1920. The most Fairlie families were found in and Scotland in 1841. In 1891 there were 21 Fairlie families living in Cumberland. This was about 17% of all the recorded Fairlie's in United Kingdom. Cumberland had the highest population of Fairlie families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Fairlie 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 Fairlie ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Carpenter and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Fairlie. 28% of Fairlie men worked as a Carpenter and 77% of Fairlie women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Fairlie were Physician and Domestic Servant.

View Census Data for Fairlie | 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

  • Carpenter
    28%
  • Licensed Victualler
    19%
  • Gardener
    19%
  • Physician
    19%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    77%
  • Private Means
    11%
  • Bank Clerk
    5%
  • Domestic Servant
    3%

What Fairlie family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 11,000 census records available for the last name Fairlie. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Fairlie census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Fairlie

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Fairlie. 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 Fairlie immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Fairlie. For the veterans among your Fairlie ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Fairlie military records

You've only scratched the surface of Fairlie family history

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What is the average Fairlie lifespan?

Between 1962 and 2004, in the United States, Fairlie life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1968, and highest in 1976. The average life expectancy for Fairlie in 1962 was 72, and 80 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Fairlie

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Fairlie 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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