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Risley Family History

Risley Surname Meaning

English: habitational name from Risley in Winwick (Lancashire), Risley (Derbyshire), Riseley (Bedfordshire), or Riseley Farm in Swallowfield (Berkshire).

The placenames derive from Old English hrīs ‘brushwood’ + lēah ‘woodland clearing’.

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


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Where is the Risley family from?

You can see how Risley families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Risley family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Risley families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 79 Risley families living in London. This was about 19% of all the recorded Risley's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Risley families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Risley 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 Risley 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 Risley. 38% of Risley men worked as a General Labourer and 83% of Risley women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Risley were Window Cleaner and Housewife.

View Census Data for Risley | 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
    38%
  • Incapacitated
    13%
  • Lorry Driver
    13%
  • Window Cleaner
    13%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    83%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    4%
  • Private Means
    2%
  • Housewife
    2%

What Risley family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 38,000 census records available for the last name Risley. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Risley census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Risley

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Risley. 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 Risley immigration records

Draft Cards

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

View all Risley military records

You've only scratched the surface of Risley family history

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What is the average Risley lifespan?

Between 1945 and 2004, in the United States, Risley life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1947, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Risley in 1945 was 49, and 79 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Risley

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Risley 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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