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Owley Family History

Owley 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: Cowley, Howley, Onley, Bowley, Oxley, Oley, Rowley, Osley, Powley

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Owley family from?

You can see how Owley families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Owley family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Owley families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 2 Owley families living in London. This was about 67% of all the recorded Owley's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Owley families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Owley 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 Owley family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 468 census records available for the last name Owley. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Owley census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Owley

Passenger Lists

There are 56 immigration records available for the last name Owley. 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 Owley immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 194 military records available for the last name Owley. For the veterans among your Owley ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Owley military records

You've only scratched the surface of Owley family history

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What is the average Owley lifespan?

Between 1965 and 2000, in the United States, Owley life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1981, and highest in 1965. The average life expectancy for Owley in 1965 was 85, and 61 in 2000.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Owley

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Owley 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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