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Ratley Family History

Ratley Surname Meaning

English: perhaps a habitational name from Ratley part of Ratley and Upton (Warwickshire) recorded as Rotelei in 1086. The placename derives from Old English rōt ‘tree root’ + lēah ‘woodland clearing’.

However, better late medieval bearer evidence is needed to establish that this is the origin of the surname.

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


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Where is the Ratley family from?

You can see how Ratley families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Ratley family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Ratley families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 61 Ratley families living in London. This was about 23% of all the recorded Ratley's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Ratley families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Ratley 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 Ratley ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Unpaid Domestic Duties was the top reported job for people in the United Kingdom named Ratley. 94% of Ratley women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Ratley | 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 Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    94%
  • Domestic Servant
    7%

What Ratley family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 7,000 census records available for the last name Ratley. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Ratley census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Ratley

Passenger Lists

There are 376 immigration records available for the last name Ratley. 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 Ratley immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 940 military records available for the last name Ratley. For the veterans among your Ratley ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Ratley military records

You've only scratched the surface of Ratley family history

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What is the average Ratley lifespan?

Between 1960 and 2004, in the United States, Ratley life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1960, and highest in 1966. The average life expectancy for Ratley in 1960 was 37, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Ratley

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

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