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Ortley Family History

Ortley 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: Wortley, Ottley, Oatley, Outley, Otley, Artley, Hartley, Ostler

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Ortley family from?

You can see how Ortley families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Ortley family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1840 and 1920. The most Ortley families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 8 Ortley families living in London. This was about 57% of all the recorded Ortley's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Ortley families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Ortley 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 Ortley ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer was the top reported job for people in the USA named Ortley. 50% of Ortley men worked as a Laborer.

View Census Data for Ortley | 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

  • Laborer
    50%
  • Farmer
    30%
  • Sea Captain
    20%

What Ortley family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 2,000 census records available for the last name Ortley. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Ortley census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Ortley

Passenger Lists

There are 50 immigration records available for the last name Ortley. 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 Ortley immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 164 military records available for the last name Ortley. For the veterans among your Ortley ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Ortley military records

You've only scratched the surface of Ortley family history

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What is the average Ortley lifespan?

Between 1959 and 2002, in the United States, Ortley life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1989, and highest in 1984. The average life expectancy for Ortley in 1959 was 62, and 77 in 2002.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Ortley

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

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