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 Midgley family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Midgley Family History

Midgley Surname Meaning

English: habitational name from any of several places in West Yorkshire or minor places in Cheshire named in Old English as ‘midge glade’.

It is derived from micg(e) meaning ‘midge’ plus lēah which means ‘wood’; ‘clearing glade’.

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 Midgley family from?

You can see how Midgley families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Midgley family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Midgley families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 3,180 Midgley families living in Yorkshire. This was about 74% of all the recorded Midgley's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Midgley families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Midgley 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 Midgley 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 Midgley. 8% of Midgley men worked as a General Labourer and 69% of Midgley women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Midgley were Joiner and Unpaid Domestic.

View Census Data for Midgley | 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
    8%
  • Incapacitated
    5%
  • Farmer
    5%
  • Joiner
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    69%
  • Housewife
    2%
  • Private Means
    2%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    2%

What Midgley family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 99,000 census records available for the last name Midgley. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Midgley census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Midgley

Passenger Lists

There are 10,000 immigration records available for the last name Midgley. 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 Midgley immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 4,000 military records available for the last name Midgley. For the veterans among your Midgley ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Midgley military records

You've only scratched the surface of Midgley family history

Discover More

What is the average Midgley lifespan?

Between 1958 and 2004, in the United States, Midgley life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1960, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for Midgley in 1958 was 64, and 74 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Midgley

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

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