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Neilley Family History

Neilley Surname Meaning

Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland.


Similar surnames: Reilley, Neill, Pilley, Cilley, Willey, Tilley, Neville, Dilley

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Neilley family from?

You can see how Neilley families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Neilley family name was found in the USA, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Neilley families were found in USA in 1880. In 1861 there were 8 Neilley families living in East Lothian. This was 100% of all the recorded Neilley's in Scotland. East Lothian had the highest population of Neilley families in 1861.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Neilley surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
  • 1861
  • 1881
  • 1891
  • 1901
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What did your Neilley ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Clerical were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Neilley. 67% of Neilley men worked as a Farmer and 100% of Neilley women worked as a Clerical.

View Census Data for Neilley | 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.

United States shown, England data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Farmer
    67%
  • Accountant
    34%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Clerical
    100%

What Neilley family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 661 census records available for the last name Neilley. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Neilley census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Neilley

Passenger Lists

There are 118 immigration records available for the last name Neilley. 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 Neilley immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 77 military records available for the last name Neilley. For the veterans among your Neilley ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Neilley military records

You've only scratched the surface of Neilley family history

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What is the average Neilley lifespan?

Between 1957 and 2004, in the United States, Neilley life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1967, and highest in 1981. The average life expectancy for Neilley in 1957 was 57, and 72 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Neilley

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Neilley 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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