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Kilshaw Family History

Kilshaw Surname Meaning

Variant of Culcheth. Culcheth (Lancs) is recorded as Kelshawe in 1556 and Kilshay in 1590. See therefore Kelshaw which may sometimes be another variant of this name and compare Anne Killshaw 1572 Richard Culcheth 1663 in IGI (Ormskirk Lancs) with James Kilshaw alias Culcheth in an undated document in Cheshire Record Office.

Additionally, Eliz Culchet 1758, Mariae Kilshaw 1766 in IGI (Hornby Lancs) provide further examples of the usage of these names throughout history.

This name is also a variant of Kershaw; see also Kelsall, with which this name was confused.

Source: The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland, 2016


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Where is the Kilshaw family from?

You can see how Kilshaw families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Kilshaw family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1851 and 1920. The most Kilshaw families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 169 Kilshaw families living in Lancashire. This was about 79% of all the recorded Kilshaw's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Kilshaw families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Kilshaw 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 Kilshaw ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Kilshaw. 29% of Kilshaw men worked as a General Labourer and 85% of Kilshaw women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Kilshaw were Engineer Fitter Aircraft and Cotton Weaver.

View Census Data for Kilshaw | 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

  • General Labourer
    29%
  • Builders Labourer
    15%
  • Insurance Agent
    10%
  • Engineer Fitter Aircraft
    10%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    85%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Cotton Weaver
    2%

What Kilshaw family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 4,000 census records available for the last name Kilshaw. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Kilshaw census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Kilshaw

Passenger Lists

There are 647 immigration records available for the last name Kilshaw. 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 Kilshaw immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 403 military records available for the last name Kilshaw. For the veterans among your Kilshaw ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Kilshaw military records

You've only scratched the surface of Kilshaw family history

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What is the average Kilshaw lifespan?

Between 1967 and 2004, in the United States, Kilshaw life expectancy was at its lowest point in 2004, and highest in 1989. The average life expectancy for Kilshaw in 1967 was 87, and 43 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Kilshaw

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Kilshaw 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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