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Isley Family History

Isley Surname Meaning

English: habitational name from a lost or unidentified place apparently in the east or south of England.

There is no clear connection between the surname and Isley Walton in Leicestershire.

Probably an altered form of German Isele, a variant of Eisele.

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


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Isley family from?

You can see how Isley families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Isley family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Isley families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 34 Isley families living in Huntingdonshire. This was about 19% of all the recorded Isley's in United Kingdom. Huntingdonshire had the highest population of Isley families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Isley 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 Isley ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Horseman On Farm and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Isley. 34% of Isley men worked as a Horseman On Farm and 95% of Isley women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Isley were Retired and Incapacitated.

View Census Data for Isley | 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

  • Horseman On Farm
    34%
  • Electrician Railway
    34%
  • Retired
    34%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    95%
  • Incapacitated
    6%

What Isley family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 16,000 census records available for the last name Isley. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Isley census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Isley

Passenger Lists

There are 789 immigration records available for the last name Isley. 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 Isley immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 3,000 military records available for the last name Isley. For the veterans among your Isley ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Isley military records

You've only scratched the surface of Isley family history

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What is the average Isley lifespan?

Between 1952 and 2004, in the United States, Isley life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1960, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for Isley in 1952 was 52, and 78 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Isley

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

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