This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Kearsley family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Kearsley Family History

Kearsley Surname Meaning

English (Lancashire) is a habitational name for someone from Kearsley (Lancashire), Kearsley in Stamfordham (Northumberland), or Keresley (Warwickshire).

It is a rare variant of Caseley, a habitational name from Caseley in Lustleigh (Devon).

The name means ‘cress-spring clearing’ derived from Old English cærse + wielle + lēah.

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


Similar surnames: 

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Kearsley family from?

You can see how Kearsley families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Kearsley family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Kearsley families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 430 Kearsley families living in Lancashire. This was about 55% of all the recorded Kearsley's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Kearsley families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Kearsley surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Kearsley 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 Kearsley. 13% of Kearsley men worked as an Incapacitated and 75% of Kearsley women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Kearsley were Farm Labourer and Housewife.

View Census Data for Kearsley | 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
    13%
  • General Labourer
    8%
  • Railway Clerk
    8%
  • Farm Labourer
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    75%
  • Domestic Servant
    3%
  • Incapacitated
    3%
  • Housewife
    3%

What Kearsley family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search UK census records for Kearsley

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Kearsley. 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 Kearsley immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 983 military records available for the last name Kearsley. For the veterans among your Kearsley ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Kearsley military records

You've only scratched the surface of Kearsley family history

Discover More

What is the average Kearsley lifespan?

Between 1965 and 2004, in the United States, Kearsley life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1995, and highest in 1991. The average life expectancy for Kearsley in 1965 was 70, and 63 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Kearsley

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

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial