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Kanley Family History

Kanley Surname Meaning

Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland.


Similar surnames: Manley, Hanley, Kenley, Kaley, Ganley, Kaney, Kahley, Kanney, Kanaley

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Kanley family from?

You can see how Kanley families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Kanley family name was found in the USA, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Kanley families were found in Canada in 1911. In 1851 there was 1 Kanley family living in Wigtownshire. This was 100% of all the recorded Kanley's in Scotland. Wigtownshire had the highest population of Kanley families in 1851.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Kanley 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 Kanley ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Housekeeper were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Kanley. 37% of Kanley men worked as a Laborer and 34% of Kanley women worked as a Housekeeper. Some less common occupations for Americans named Kanley were Clerk and Housework.

View Census Data for Kanley | 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.

United States shown, England data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    37%
  • Salesman
    22%
  • Farmer
    22%
  • Clerk
    11%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housekeeper
    34%
  • Waitress
    34%
  • Housework
    34%

What Kanley family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 601 census records available for the last name Kanley. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Kanley census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Kanley

Passenger Lists

There are 65 immigration records available for the last name Kanley. 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 Kanley immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 50 military records available for the last name Kanley. For the veterans among your Kanley ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Kanley military records

You've only scratched the surface of Kanley family history

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What is the average Kanley lifespan?

Between 1965 and 1984, in the United States, Kanley life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1975, and highest in 1984. The average life expectancy for Kanley in 1965 was 71, and 77 in 1984.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Kanley

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Kanley 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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