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Rayls Family History

Rayls 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: Rayas, Rayos, Rauls, Rayes, Rawls, Rayle, Rayl, Ralls, Hayes, Ras

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Rayls family from?

You can see how Rayls families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Rayls family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1880 and 1920. The most Rayls families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 2 Rayls families living in London. This was 100% of all the recorded Rayls's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Rayls families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Rayls surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Rayls ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Clerk were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Rayls. 53% of Rayls men worked as a Laborer and 100% of Rayls women worked as a Clerk.

View Census Data for Rayls | 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.

United States shown, England data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    53%
  • Farmer
    18%
  • Retired
    18%
  • New Worker
    12%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Clerk
    100%

What Rayls family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 862 census records available for the last name Rayls. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Rayls census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Rayls

Passenger Lists

There are 19 immigration records available for the last name Rayls. 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 Rayls immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 177 military records available for the last name Rayls. For the veterans among your Rayls ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Rayls military records

You've only scratched the surface of Rayls family history

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What is the average Rayls lifespan?

Between 1969 and 2004, in the United States, Rayls life expectancy was at its lowest point in 2001, and highest in 1990. The average life expectancy for Rayls in 1969 was 77, and 73 in 2004.

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

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