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Bulley Family History

Bulley Surname Meaning

English (of Norman origin) is a habitational name derived from any of several places in northern France called Bouillé (La Manche, Maine-et-Loire, Mayenne) or Bully-en-Brai (Seine-Maritime). The name comes from a Gaulish personal name of uncertain form and meaning plus the locative suffix -acum.

Additionally, it is a habitational name from one or more of several places with similar names in England. Examples include Bulleigh in Devon or Bulley in Gloucestershire.

Both of these English places are named with the Old English term bula, meaning ‘bull,’ combined with lēah, which means ‘woodland clearing.’

This etymology highlights the connection between geographical features and the names given to various locales in both France and England.

Such habitational names often reflect the landscape and activities associated with these areas, illustrating how history and language intertwine.

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


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Where is the Bulley family from?

You can see how Bulley families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Bulley family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Bulley families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 339 Bulley families living in Devon. This was about 38% of all the recorded Bulley's in United Kingdom. Devon had the highest population of Bulley families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Bulley 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 Bulley 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 Bulley. 12% of Bulley men worked as a General Labourer and 72% of Bulley women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Bulley were Builders Labourer and Private Means.

View Census Data for Bulley | 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
    12%
  • Gardener
    6%
  • Farmer
    6%
  • Builders Labourer
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    72%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Private Means
    3%

What Bulley family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 20,000 census records available for the last name Bulley. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Bulley census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Bulley

Passenger Lists

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

Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Bulley. For the veterans among your Bulley ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Bulley military records

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What is the average Bulley lifespan?

Between 1960 and 2004, in the United States, Bulley life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1993, and highest in 1973. The average life expectancy for Bulley in 1960 was 44, and 81 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Bulley

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Bulley 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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