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Tunley Family History

Tunley Surname Meaning

See Townley from Tunley in Bisley (Gloucs), which is recorded as Tonley in 130. The place-name derives from Old English tūn, meaning ‘farmstead, estate, enclosure’.

Additionally, it incorporates lēah, which translates to ‘wood, woodland clearing’.

This indicates a significant historical and geographical relevance to the area.

Over time, the name has evolved and is a reduced form of Tunningley.

The combination of these elements reflects the landscape and settlements of the period.

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


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Where is the Tunley family from?

You can see how Tunley families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Tunley family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1840 and 1920. The most Tunley families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 61 Tunley families living in Staffordshire. This was about 19% of all the recorded Tunley's in United Kingdom. Staffordshire had the highest population of Tunley families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Tunley 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 Tunley ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Bricklayer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Tunley. 34% of Tunley men worked as a Bricklayer and 78% of Tunley women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Tunley were Press Tool Fitter turner Operator H W and Domestic Servant.

View Census Data for Tunley | 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

  • Bricklayer
    34%
  • General Labourer
    17%
  • Mental Nurse
    17%
  • Press Tool Fitter turner Operator H W
    17%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    78%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    6%
  • Housewife
    4%
  • Domestic Servant
    3%

What Tunley family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search UK census records for Tunley

Passenger Lists

There are 678 immigration records available for the last name Tunley. 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 Tunley immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 413 military records available for the last name Tunley. For the veterans among your Tunley ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Tunley military records

You've only scratched the surface of Tunley family history

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What is the average Tunley lifespan?

Between 1965 and 2004, in the United States, Tunley life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1981, and highest in 1990. The average life expectancy for Tunley in 1965 was 77, and 50 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Tunley

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Tunley 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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