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Worsley Family History

Worsley Surname Meaning

English (Lancashire): habitational name from Worsley in Lancashire or Worsley Farm in Rock (Worcestershire). The Lancashire placename may derive from an Old English personal name Weorcgȳth (genitive Weorcgȳthes) + Old English lēah ‘wood woodland clearing’.

The Worcestershire placename may take its name from a lost stream-name Worf + Old English lēah.

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


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Where is the Worsley family from?

You can see how Worsley families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Worsley family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Worsley families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 1,559 Worsley families living in Lancashire. This was about 56% of all the recorded Worsley's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Worsley families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Worsley 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 Worsley 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 Worsley. 8% of Worsley men worked as a General Labourer and 72% of Worsley women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Worsley were Incapacitated and Private Means.

View Census Data for Worsley | 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
    8%
  • Builders Labourer
    5%
  • Farmworker
    4%
  • Incapacitated
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    72%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Private Means
    3%

What Worsley family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 50,000 census records available for the last name Worsley. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Worsley census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Worsley

Passenger Lists

There are 5,000 immigration records available for the last name Worsley. 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 Worsley immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 5,000 military records available for the last name Worsley. For the veterans among your Worsley ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Worsley military records

You've only scratched the surface of Worsley family history

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What is the average Worsley lifespan?

Between 1957 and 2004, in the United States, Worsley life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1957, and highest in 1989. The average life expectancy for Worsley in 1957 was 33, and 78 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Worsley

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Worsley 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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