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Topley Family History

Topley Surname Meaning

This is a variant of Topliff with the same development of -cliff via -liff to -ley, as seen in such place-names as Cronkley (Northumb), Catsley (Dorset), and Gatley (Cheshire). See also Hinchley.

Alternatively, it is a hypercorrect form of Topliss without the final -s; although Topliss itself could be an -s variant of Topley, as a pronunciation of Topliffe.

Compare Mary Topliss 1753, Samuel Topley 1760, and Samuel Topliss 1789 in IGI (Ticknall, Derbys).

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


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Where is the Topley family from?

You can see how Topley families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Topley family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Topley families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 170 Topley families living in London. This was about 33% of all the recorded Topley's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Topley families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Topley 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 Topley ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, House Painter and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Topley. 17% of Topley men worked as a House Painter and 81% of Topley women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Topley were Dyers Labourer and Incapacitated.

View Census Data for Topley | 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

  • House Painter
    17%
  • Colliery Hewer Heavy Worker
    17%
  • Painter decorator
    12%
  • Dyers Labourer
    12%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    81%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housekeeper
    3%
  • Incapacitated
    2%

What Topley family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 13,000 census records available for the last name Topley. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Topley census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Topley

Passenger Lists

There are 926 immigration records available for the last name Topley. 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 Topley immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Topley. For the veterans among your Topley ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Topley military records

You've only scratched the surface of Topley family history

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What is the average Topley lifespan?

Between 1963 and 2003, in the United States, Topley life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1992, and highest in 1969. The average life expectancy for Topley in 1963 was 64, and 79 in 2003.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Topley

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Topley 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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