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Gerley Family History

Gerley 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: Berley, Gurley, Verley, Kerley, Perley, Gorley, Garley, Herley

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Gerley family from?

You can see how Gerley families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Gerley family name was found in the USA, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Gerley families were found in USA in 1880. In 1871 there were 4 Gerley families living in Lanarkshire. This was 100% of all the recorded Gerley's in Scotland. Lanarkshire had the highest population of Gerley families in 1871.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Gerley 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 Gerley ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Maid were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Gerley. 43% of Gerley men worked as a Laborer and 50% of Gerley women worked as a Maid. Some less common occupations for Americans named Gerley were Proprietor and Laborer.

View Census Data for Gerley | 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.

United States shown, England data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    43%
  • Salesman
    29%
  • Meat Cutter
    15%
  • Proprietor
    15%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Maid
    50%
  • Laborer
    50%

What Gerley family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 728 census records available for the last name Gerley. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Gerley census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Gerley

Passenger Lists

There are 135 immigration records available for the last name Gerley. 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 Gerley immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 160 military records available for the last name Gerley. For the veterans among your Gerley ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Gerley military records

You've only scratched the surface of Gerley family history

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What is the average Gerley lifespan?

Between 1973 and 1997, in the United States, Gerley life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1983, and highest in 1992. The average life expectancy for Gerley in 1973 was 67, and 78 in 1997.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Gerley

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

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