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 Farley family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Farley Family History

Farley Surname Meaning

English: habitational name from any of various places called Farley, of which there are examples in Berkshire, Derbyshire, Hampshire, Kent, Somerset, Gloucestershire, Staffordshire, Surrey, Wiltshire, Shropshire, and Sussex. From Old English fearn ‘fern’ + lēah ‘woodland clearing’.

See also Farleigh, Fairley, Fairlie. Irish: shortened Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Fearghaile (see Farrelly).

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 Farley family from?

You can see how Farley families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Farley family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Farley families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 597 Farley families living in London. This was about 15% of all the recorded Farley's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Farley families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Farley 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 Farley 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 Farley. 12% of Farley men worked as a General Labourer and 69% of Farley women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Farley were Bricklayer and Incapacitated.

View Census Data for Farley | 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
    5%
  • Builders Labourer
    4%
  • Bricklayer
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    69%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    4%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Incapacitated
    2%

What Farley family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 257,000 census records available for the last name Farley. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Farley census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Farley

Passenger Lists

There are 25,000 immigration records available for the last name Farley. 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 Farley immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 45,000 military records available for the last name Farley. For the veterans among your Farley ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Farley military records

You've only scratched the surface of Farley family history

Discover More

What is the average Farley lifespan?

Between 1941 and 2004, in the United States, Farley life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1950, and highest in 1999. The average life expectancy for Farley in 1941 was 45, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Farley

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

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