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Olney Family History

Olney Surname Meaning

English: habitational name from Olney in Buckinghamshire.

The placename derives from an Old English personal name Olla + Old English ēg ‘island’.

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


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Olney family from?

You can see how Olney families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Olney family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Olney families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 176 Olney families living in London. This was about 28% of all the recorded Olney's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Olney families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Olney 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 Olney 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 Olney. 15% of Olney men worked as a General Labourer and 77% of Olney women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Olney were Market Gardener (own Account) and Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Olney | 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
    15%
  • Carpenter joiner
    15%
  • Fitters Mate
    6%
  • Market Gardener (own Account)
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    77%
  • Housewife
    5%
  • Domestic Servant
    2%
  • Domestic Duties
    2%

What Olney family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 43,000 census records available for the last name Olney. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Olney census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Olney

Passenger Lists

There are 3,000 immigration records available for the last name Olney. 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 Olney immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 6,000 military records available for the last name Olney. For the veterans among your Olney ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Olney military records

You've only scratched the surface of Olney family history

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What is the average Olney lifespan?

Between 1944 and 2004, in the United States, Olney life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 1991. The average life expectancy for Olney in 1944 was 24, and 78 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Olney

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Olney 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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