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Norley Family History

Norley Surname Meaning

From one or more of the numerous places so-called, such as Norley (Cheshire), Northleigh by Honiton, and Northleigh in Goodleigh (both Devon), Norley Farm in Wonersh (Surrey), and Norley in Calne (Wilts).

Most of the place-names derive from Middle English north ‘north, northern’ + ley ‘woodland clearing, glade’, also ‘open land’, or Old English norð ‘north, northern’ + lēah ‘open woodland’.

Northleigh by Honiton (Devon) was recorded simply as Legh in 1228, with North- added later to distinguish it from nearby Southleigh.

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


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Where is the Norley family from?

You can see how Norley families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Norley family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1841 and 1920. The most Norley families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 75 Norley families living in London. This was about 24% of all the recorded Norley's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Norley families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Norley 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 Norley ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Gardener (retired) and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Norley. 100% of Norley men worked as a Gardener (retired) and 86% of Norley women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Norley | 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 (retired)
    100%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    86%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    5%
  • Private Means
    4%
  • Nurse
    4%

What Norley family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 6,000 census records available for the last name Norley. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Norley census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Norley

Passenger Lists

There are 607 immigration records available for the last name Norley. 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 Norley immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 388 military records available for the last name Norley. For the veterans among your Norley ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Norley military records

You've only scratched the surface of Norley family history

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What is the average Norley lifespan?

Between 1960 and 2004, in the United States, Norley life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1960, and highest in 1999. The average life expectancy for Norley in 1960 was 41, and 80 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Norley

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Norley 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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