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Benkley Family History

Benkley 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: Bentley, Beckley, Bunkley, Binkley, Bensley, Berkley, Beakley, Henley

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Benkley family from?

You can see how Benkley families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Benkley family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1880 and 1920. The most Benkley families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 3 Benkley families living in Cheshire. This was 100% of all the recorded Benkley's in United Kingdom. Cheshire had the highest population of Benkley families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Benkley 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 Benkley ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Housework were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Benkley. 22% of Benkley men worked as a Laborer and 50% of Benkley women worked as a Housework. Some less common occupations for Americans named Benkley were Farmer and Folder.

View Census Data for Benkley | 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
    22%
  • Farming
    16%
  • Salesman
    13%
  • Farmer
    13%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housework
    50%
  • Folder
    50%

What Benkley family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 559 census records available for the last name Benkley. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Benkley census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Benkley

Passenger Lists

There are 39 immigration records available for the last name Benkley. 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 Benkley immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 46 military records available for the last name Benkley. For the veterans among your Benkley ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Benkley military records

You've only scratched the surface of Benkley family history

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What is the average Benkley lifespan?

Between 1980 and 1999, in the United States, Benkley life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1993, and highest in 1989. The average life expectancy for Benkley in 1980 was 88, and 92 in 1999.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Benkley

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Benkley 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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