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Sidley Family History

Sidley Surname Meaning

English:: habitational name from Sidley Green in Bexhill (Sussex) from Old English sīd ‘large spacious long’ + lēah ‘woodland clearing’. Possibly a variant of the Lancashire name Sidlow itself perhaps from the unrecorded Middle English descendant of an Old English female personal name Sidulufu (formed in a regular way from sidu ‘custom modesty’ + lufu ‘love’).

Believed to be present in the placename Sidlow Bridge in Horley (Surrey).

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


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Where is the Sidley family from?

You can see how Sidley families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Sidley family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Sidley families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 57 Sidley families living in Lancashire. This was about 28% of all the recorded Sidley's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Sidley families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Sidley 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 Sidley 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 Sidley. 75% of Sidley men worked as a General Labourer and 93% of Sidley women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Sidley were Fish Fryer and Potters Attendant Batter Out Mould Runner Heavy Worker.

View Census Data for Sidley | 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
    75%
  • Fish Fryer
    25%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    93%
  • School Teacher (elm)
    4%
  • Potters Attendant Batter Out Mould Runner Heavy Worker
    4%

What Sidley family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search UK census records for Sidley

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Sidley. 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 Sidley immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 777 military records available for the last name Sidley. For the veterans among your Sidley ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Sidley military records

You've only scratched the surface of Sidley family history

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What is the average Sidley lifespan?

Between 1954 and 2004, in the United States, Sidley life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1954, and highest in 2001. The average life expectancy for Sidley in 1954 was 49, and 80 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Sidley

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Sidley 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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