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Willacy Family History

Willacy Surname Meaning

Perhaps from Willersey (Gloucs) but the complete loss in post-medieval times of the -r- which is retained in the place-name would be unusual and suggests the possibility of an alternative origin.

The place-name is recorded as Willersei in 1086 and probably derives from the Old English personal name Wilhere (genitive Wilheres) + Old English ēg ‘island’.

In Lancs the surname has been influenced in the long run by the place-name Wallasey (Cheshire).

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


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Where is the Willacy family from?

You can see how Willacy families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Willacy family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Willacy families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 221 Willacy families living in Lancashire. This was about 83% of all the recorded Willacy's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Willacy families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Willacy 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 Willacy ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Cotton Weaver and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Willacy. 14% of Willacy men worked as a Cotton Weaver and 71% of Willacy women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Willacy were Fisherman and Incapacitated.

View Census Data for Willacy | 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

  • Cotton Weaver
    14%
  • Railway Clerk
    14%
  • General Labourer
    14%
  • Fisherman
    9%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    71%
  • Cotton Weaver
    11%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    4%
  • Incapacitated
    3%

What Willacy family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 3,000 census records available for the last name Willacy. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Willacy census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Willacy

Passenger Lists

There are 291 immigration records available for the last name Willacy. 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 Willacy immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 286 military records available for the last name Willacy. For the veterans among your Willacy ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Willacy military records

You've only scratched the surface of Willacy family history

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What is the average Willacy lifespan?

Between 1964 and 2004, in the United States, Willacy life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1973, and highest in 1992. The average life expectancy for Willacy in 1964 was 83, and 89 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Willacy

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Willacy 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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