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Abley Family History

Abley 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: Axley, Alley, Bley, Abbey, Abney, Apley, Ailey, Ables, Able, Adley

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Abley family from?

You can see how Abley families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Abley family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Abley families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 20 Abley families living in London. This was about 24% of all the recorded Abley's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Abley families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Abley 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 Abley ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Builders Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Abley. 13% of Abley men worked as a Builders Labourer and 87% of Abley women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Abley were General Labourer Heavy Worker and Shorthand Typist.

View Census Data for Abley | 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

  • Builders Labourer
    13%
  • Public Works Labourer
    13%
  • General Labourer
    13%
  • General Labourer Heavy Worker
    13%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    87%
  • Housekeeper
    5%
  • Household Duties
    4%
  • Shorthand Typist
    4%

What Abley family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 4,000 census records available for the last name Abley. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Abley census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Abley

Passenger Lists

There are 198 immigration records available for the last name Abley. 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 Abley immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 300 military records available for the last name Abley. For the veterans among your Abley ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Abley military records

You've only scratched the surface of Abley family history

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What is the average Abley lifespan?

Between 1965 and 2003, in the United States, Abley life expectancy was at its lowest point in 2002, and highest in 1967. The average life expectancy for Abley in 1965 was 73, and 94 in 2003.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Abley

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Abley 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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