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Grimsley Family History

Grimsley Surname Meaning

English (Oxfordshire and Warwickshire): habitational name from Grimley in Worcestershire probably so named from Old English grīma ‘specter goblin’.

Old English lēah translates to ‘woodland clearing’.

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


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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Grimsley family from?

You can see how Grimsley families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Grimsley family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Grimsley families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 81 Grimsley families living in Oxfordshire. This was about 26% of all the recorded Grimsley's in United Kingdom. Oxfordshire had the highest population of Grimsley families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Grimsley 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 Grimsley ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Gardener and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Grimsley. 20% of Grimsley men worked as a Gardener and 74% of Grimsley women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Grimsley were Bricklayer and Domestic Duties At Home.

View Census Data for Grimsley | 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

  • Gardener
    20%
  • Carpenter
    14%
  • Disabled
    14%
  • Bricklayer
    14%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    74%
  • Domestic Unpaid
    3%
  • Private Means
    3%
  • Domestic Duties At Home
    2%

What Grimsley family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 21,000 census records available for the last name Grimsley. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Grimsley census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Grimsley

Passenger Lists

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

Draft Cards

There are 5,000 military records available for the last name Grimsley. For the veterans among your Grimsley ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Grimsley military records

You've only scratched the surface of Grimsley family history

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What is the average Grimsley lifespan?

Between 1942 and 2004, in the United States, Grimsley life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1955, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Grimsley in 1942 was 38, and 76 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Grimsley

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Grimsley 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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