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Priestley Family History

Priestley Surname Meaning

English (mainly Yorkshire): habitational name from any of the various minor places so named, especially the one in North Yorkshire.

These are named from Old English prēost ‘priest’ + lēah ‘wood clearing’, i.e. a wood or clearing belonging to the Church.

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 Priestley family from?

You can see how Priestley families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Priestley family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Priestley families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 3,308 Priestley families living in Yorkshire. This was about 63% of all the recorded Priestley's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Priestley families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Priestley 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 Priestley 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 Priestley. 8% of Priestley men worked as a General Labourer and 68% of Priestley women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Priestley were Retired and Household Duties.

View Census Data for Priestley | 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
    4%
  • Farmer
    3%
  • Retired
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    68%
  • Housewife
    2%
  • Private Means
    2%
  • Household Duties
    2%

What Priestley family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 121,000 census records available for the last name Priestley. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Priestley census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Priestley

Passenger Lists

There are 7,000 immigration records available for the last name Priestley. 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 Priestley immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 5,000 military records available for the last name Priestley. For the veterans among your Priestley ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Priestley military records

You've only scratched the surface of Priestley family history

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What is the average Priestley lifespan?

Between 1950 and 2004, in the United States, Priestley life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1961, and highest in 1962. The average life expectancy for Priestley in 1950 was 48, and 81 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Priestley

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Priestley 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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