This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Birley family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Birley Family History

Birley Surname Meaning

English: habitational name from Birley in Ecclesfield (Yorkshire) East or North Bierley (Yorkshire) or Birley (Derbyshire).

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


Similar surnames: 

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Birley family from?

You can see how Birley families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Birley family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Birley families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 101 Birley families living in Yorkshire. This was about 20% of all the recorded Birley's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Birley families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Birley surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Birley ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Lorry Driver and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Birley. 17% of Birley men worked as a Lorry Driver and 79% of Birley women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Birley were Dental Mechanic and Household Duties.

View Census Data for Birley | 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

  • Lorry Driver
    17%
  • Stone Mason
    17%
  • Colliery Hewer
    12%
  • Dental Mechanic
    12%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    79%
  • Private Means
    10%
  • Household Duties Unpaid
    3%
  • Household Duties
    3%

What Birley family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 11,000 census records available for the last name Birley. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Birley census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Birley

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Birley. 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 Birley immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 778 military records available for the last name Birley. For the veterans among your Birley ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Birley military records

You've only scratched the surface of Birley family history

Discover More

What is the average Birley lifespan?

Between 1961 and 2003, in the United States, Birley life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1971, and highest in 1986. The average life expectancy for Birley in 1961 was 53, and 92 in 2003.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Birley

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

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial