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 Birtley family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Birtley Family History

Birtley Surname Meaning

From any of several places called Birtley such as Birtley in Chester le Street (Durham) and Birtley in Ticklerton (Shrops).

Such place-names are generally from Old English beorht ‘bright’ + lēah ‘clearing’.

Source: The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland, 2016


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 Birtley family from?

You can see how Birtley families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Birtley family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Scotland between 1841 and 1920. The most Birtley families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 80 Birtley families living in Durham. This was about 95% of all the recorded Birtley's in United Kingdom. Durham had the highest population of Birtley families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Birtley 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 Birtley ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Unpaid Domestic Duties was the top reported job for people in the United Kingdom named Birtley. 86% of Birtley women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Birtley | 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 Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    86%
  • Unpaid Domestic Duti
    8%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    8%

What Birtley family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1,000 census records available for the last name Birtley. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Birtley census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Birtley

Passenger Lists

There are 184 immigration records available for the last name Birtley. 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 Birtley immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 211 military records available for the last name Birtley. For the veterans among your Birtley ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Birtley military records

You've only scratched the surface of Birtley family history

Discover More

What is the average Birtley lifespan?

Between 1956 and 2004, in the United States, Birtley life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1962, and highest in 1985. The average life expectancy for Birtley in 1956 was 57, and 79 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Birtley

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

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