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Heys Family History

Heys Surname Meaning

English (Lancashire): variant of Hayes or Hyson.

Dutch: variant archaic or Americanized of Heijs a cognate of German Heise.

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 Heys family from?

You can see how Heys families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Heys family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Heys families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 1,896 Heys families living in Lancashire. This was about 86% of all the recorded Heys's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Heys families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Heys 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 Heys ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Cotton Weaver and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Heys. 25% of Heys men worked as a Cotton Weaver and 62% of Heys women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Heys were Incapacitated and Incapacitated.

View Census Data for Heys | 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

  • Cotton Weaver
    25%
  • General Labourer
    14%
  • Dairy Farmer
    6%
  • Incapacitated
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    62%
  • Cotton Weaver
    11%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Incapacitated
    2%

What Heys family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 27,000 census records available for the last name Heys. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Heys census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Heys

Passenger Lists

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

Draft Cards

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

View all Heys military records

You've only scratched the surface of Heys family history

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What is the average Heys lifespan?

Between 1955 and 2004, in the United States, Heys life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1955, and highest in 1992. The average life expectancy for Heys in 1955 was 41, and 74 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Heys

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Heys 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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