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Gerlay Family History

Gerlay 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: German, Gray, Berley, Gurley, Perla, Garay, Gera, Delay, Gery

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Gerlay family from?

You can see how Gerlay families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Gerlay family name was found in the USA, and Scotland between 1861 and 1880. The most Gerlay families were found in USA in 1880, and Scotland in 1861. In 1861 there was 1 Gerlay family living in Lanarkshire. This was 100% of all the recorded Gerlay's in Scotland. Lanarkshire had the highest population of Gerlay families in 1861.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Gerlay surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What Gerlay family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 37 census records available for the last name Gerlay. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Gerlay census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Gerlay

Passenger Lists

There are 14 immigration records available for the last name Gerlay. 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 Gerlay immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 2 military records available for the last name Gerlay. For the veterans among your Gerlay ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Gerlay military records

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What is the average Gerlay lifespan?

Average Gerlay life expectancy in 1978 was 58 years. This was lower than the general public life expectancy which was 70.

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Gerlay 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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