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Burnley Family History

Burnley Surname Meaning

English (Lancashire and Yorkshire): habitational name from Burnley in Lancashire so named with the Old English river name Brun (from brūn ‘brown’ or burna ‘stream’).

It signifies a geographical connection to the area where the name originated.

The name combines elements that describe both the natural features and the landscape of the place.

The term lēah refers to a woodland clearing, indicating the presence of wooded areas nearby.

This etymology reflects the historical relationship between the inhabitants and their environment.

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


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Where is the Burnley family from?

You can see how Burnley families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Burnley family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Burnley families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 520 Burnley families living in Yorkshire. This was about 70% of all the recorded Burnley's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Burnley families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Burnley 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 Burnley 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 Burnley. 30% of Burnley men worked as a General Labourer and 76% of Burnley women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Burnley were Colliery Hewer and Unpaid Domestic Duti.

View Census Data for Burnley | 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
    30%
  • Railway Clerk
    14%
  • Sheet Metal Worker
    10%
  • Colliery Hewer
    7%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    76%
  • Unpaid House Duties
    3%
  • Private Means
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic Duti
    2%

What Burnley family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 23,000 census records available for the last name Burnley. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Burnley census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Burnley

Passenger Lists

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

Draft Cards

There are 2,000 military records available for the last name Burnley. For the veterans among your Burnley ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Burnley military records

You've only scratched the surface of Burnley family history

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What is the average Burnley lifespan?

Between 1957 and 2004, in the United States, Burnley life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1957, and highest in 1989. The average life expectancy for Burnley in 1957 was 36, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Burnley

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Burnley 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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