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Kilby Family History

Kilby Surname Meaning

English: habitational name from Kilby in Leicestershire. The placename derives from Old English cild ‘child’ (genitive plural cilda) + Old Norse bȳ ‘farmstead village’ with change of initial Ch- to K- due to Scandinavian influence.

There may have been some confusion with Kelby.

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


Similar surnames: 

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Where is the Kilby family from?

You can see how Kilby families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Kilby family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Kilby families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 297 Kilby families living in London. This was about 20% of all the recorded Kilby's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Kilby families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Kilby 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 Kilby 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 Kilby. 13% of Kilby men worked as a General Labourer and 71% of Kilby women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Kilby were Farm Labourer and Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Kilby | 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
    13%
  • Retired
    6%
  • Market Gardener
    4%
  • Farm Labourer
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    71%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Domestic Duties
    3%

What Kilby family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 50,000 census records available for the last name Kilby. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Kilby census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Kilby

Passenger Lists

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

Draft Cards

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

View all Kilby military records

You've only scratched the surface of Kilby family history

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What is the average Kilby lifespan?

Between 1946 and 2004, in the United States, Kilby life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1959, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Kilby in 1946 was 33, and 81 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Kilby

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Kilby 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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