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 Kerley family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Kerley Family History

Kerley Surname Meaning

Irish (Louth): variant of Curley (see McCurley).

English (Dorset and Hampshire): variant of Carley.

In some cases probably also an Americanized form of Swiss German Kehrli a diminutive of Kerl.

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 Kerley family from?

You can see how Kerley families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Kerley family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Kerley families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 223 Kerley families living in Dorset. This was about 26% of all the recorded Kerley's in United Kingdom. Dorset had the highest population of Kerley families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Kerley 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 Kerley ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Farm Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Kerley. 10% of Kerley men worked as a Farm Labourer and 75% of Kerley women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Kerley were Gardener and Housekeeper.

View Census Data for Kerley | 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

  • Farm Labourer
    10%
  • Farm Carter
    7%
  • Cowman
    7%
  • Gardener
    7%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    75%
  • Incapacitated
    4%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housekeeper
    2%

What Kerley family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 29,000 census records available for the last name Kerley. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Kerley census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Kerley

Passenger Lists

There are 3,000 immigration records available for the last name Kerley. 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 Kerley immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 4,000 military records available for the last name Kerley. For the veterans among your Kerley ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Kerley military records

You've only scratched the surface of Kerley family history

Discover More

What is the average Kerley lifespan?

Between 1944 and 2004, in the United States, Kerley life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1960, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Kerley in 1944 was 35, and 79 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Kerley

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

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