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Rockley Family History

Rockley Surname Meaning

Chiefly from Rockley in Worsbrough (WR Yorks) and perhaps also from Ruckley (Shrops). The place-names both derive from Old English hrōc ‘rook’ (genitive plural hrōca) + lēah ‘wood woodland clearing’.

See Rookley.

Source: The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland, 2016


Similar surnames: 

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Where is the Rockley family from?

You can see how Rockley families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Rockley family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1871 and 1920. The most Rockley families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 138 Rockley families living in Nottinghamshire. This was about 54% of all the recorded Rockley's in United Kingdom. Nottinghamshire had the highest population of Rockley families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Rockley 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 Rockley 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 Rockley. 30% of Rockley men worked as a General Labourer and 83% of Rockley women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Rockley were Joiner and Incapacitated.

View Census Data for Rockley | 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
    30%
  • Incapacitated
    15%
  • Builders Labourer
    12%
  • Joiner
    12%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    83%
  • Housewife
    4%
  • Retired
    3%
  • Incapacitated
    3%

What Rockley family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 6,000 census records available for the last name Rockley. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Rockley census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Rockley

Passenger Lists

There are 808 immigration records available for the last name Rockley. 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 Rockley immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 621 military records available for the last name Rockley. For the veterans among your Rockley ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Rockley military records

You've only scratched the surface of Rockley family history

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What is the average Rockley lifespan?

Between 1964 and 2004, in the United States, Rockley life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1977, and highest in 1992. The average life expectancy for Rockley in 1964 was 91, and 79 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Rockley

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Rockley 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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