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Sayles Family History

Sayles Surname Meaning

English (Yorkshire): variant of Sales.

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


Similar surnames: 

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Where is the Sayles family from?

You can see how Sayles families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Sayles family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Sayles families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 347 Sayles families living in Yorkshire. This was about 63% of all the recorded Sayles's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Sayles families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Sayles 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 Sayles 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 Sayles. 32% of Sayles men worked as a General Labourer and 79% of Sayles women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Sayles were Colliery Hewer Retired and Household Duties.

View Census Data for Sayles | 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
    32%
  • Colliery Hewer
    11%
  • Old Age Pensioner
    11%
  • Colliery Hewer Retired
    7%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    79%
  • Housewife
    4%
  • Unpaid Domestic Dut
    3%
  • Household Duties
    3%

What Sayles family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 41,000 census records available for the last name Sayles. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Sayles census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Sayles

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Sayles. 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 Sayles immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 5,000 military records available for the last name Sayles. For the veterans among your Sayles ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Sayles military records

You've only scratched the surface of Sayles family history

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What is the average Sayles lifespan?

Between 1946 and 2004, in the United States, Sayles life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1946, and highest in 1954. The average life expectancy for Sayles in 1946 was 30, and 71 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Sayles

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Sayles 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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