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 Oldroyd family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Oldroyd Family History

Oldroyd Surname Meaning

English (Yorkshire): variant of Ollerhead from a lost and unidentified place called Ollerhead apparently in Lancashire remodelled as if from a placename containing Yorkshire dialect royd ‘clearing’ (Old English rodu).

The original placename may derive from Old English alren ‘growing with alders’ (from Old English alor ‘alder’ + the adjectival suffix -en) + hēafod ‘head top summit’.

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 Oldroyd family from?

You can see how Oldroyd families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Oldroyd family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Oldroyd families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 1,388 Oldroyd families living in Yorkshire. This was about 87% of all the recorded Oldroyd's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Oldroyd families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Oldroyd 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 Oldroyd 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 Oldroyd. 9% of Oldroyd men worked as a General Labourer and 71% of Oldroyd women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Oldroyd were Railway Clerk and Incapacitated.

View Census Data for Oldroyd | 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
    9%
  • Farmer
    7%
  • Insurance Agent
    5%
  • Railway Clerk
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    71%
  • Private Means
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic Du
    3%
  • Incapacitated
    2%

What Oldroyd family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 35,000 census records available for the last name Oldroyd. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Oldroyd census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Oldroyd

Passenger Lists

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

Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Oldroyd. For the veterans among your Oldroyd ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Oldroyd military records

You've only scratched the surface of Oldroyd family history

Discover More

What is the average Oldroyd lifespan?

Between 1942 and 2004, in the United States, Oldroyd life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1991, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Oldroyd in 1942 was 53, and 92 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Oldroyd

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

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