This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Whiley family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Whiley Family History

Whiley Surname Meaning

English: probably in most cases a nickname from Middle English wili ‘wily, crafty, deceitful’ though this may also be a habitational name from Wylye in Wiltshire itself derived from a river name there.

(British Celtic for ‘the tricky one’). Compare Wiley.

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


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Whiley family from?

You can see how Whiley families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Whiley family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Whiley families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 115 Whiley families living in London. This was about 18% of all the recorded Whiley's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Whiley families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Whiley surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Whiley ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Farm Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Whiley. 12% of Whiley men worked as a Farm Labourer and 76% of Whiley women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Whiley were Fish Salesman and Unpaid Domestic.

View Census Data for Whiley | 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

  • Farm Labourer
    12%
  • Builders Labourer
    10%
  • General Labourer
    10%
  • Fish Salesman
    8%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    76%
  • Housekeeper
    3%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    2%

What Whiley family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search UK census records for Whiley

Passenger Lists

There are 951 immigration records available for the last name Whiley. 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 Whiley immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 997 military records available for the last name Whiley. For the veterans among your Whiley ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Whiley military records

You've only scratched the surface of Whiley family history

Discover More

What is the average Whiley lifespan?

Between 1959 and 2004, in the United States, Whiley life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1986, and highest in 1966. The average life expectancy for Whiley in 1959 was 55, and 69 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Whiley

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Whiley 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.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Whiley family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial