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Mawdsley Family History

Mawdsley Surname Meaning

English: habitational name from Mawdesley in Lancashire named in Middle English with the Anglo-Norman French female personal name Maud.

It combines Maud with Middle English ley, which means ‘woodland clearing’.

This indicates that the name is tied to a specific location rooted in the landscape of the area.

The use of a feminine personal name highlights the historical connections between the individuals and their surroundings.

Mawdesley's etymology reflects a blend of cultural influences in the region during the Middle English period.

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


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Where is the Mawdsley family from?

You can see how Mawdsley families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Mawdsley family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1851 and 1920. The most Mawdsley families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 1,088 Mawdsley families living in Lancashire. This was about 93% of all the recorded Mawdsley's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Mawdsley families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Mawdsley 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 Mawdsley ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Gardener and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Mawdsley. 11% of Mawdsley men worked as a Gardener and 71% of Mawdsley women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Mawdsley were Motor Driver and Housewife.

View Census Data for Mawdsley | 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

  • Gardener
    11%
  • General Labourer
    11%
  • Farm Labourer
    6%
  • Motor Driver
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    71%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Incapacitated
    3%
  • Housewife
    2%

What Mawdsley family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 14,000 census records available for the last name Mawdsley. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Mawdsley census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Mawdsley

Passenger Lists

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

Draft Cards

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

View all Mawdsley military records

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What is the average Mawdsley lifespan?

Between 1950 and 2004, in the United States, Mawdsley life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1995, and highest in 2001. The average life expectancy for Mawdsley in 1950 was 67, and 67 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Mawdsley

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Mawdsley 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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