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Yale Family History

Yale Surname Meaning

Welsh (Shropshire and Staffordshire) is a habitational name derived from Yale in the lordship of Bromham.

Yale itself is located in Denbighshire and has its roots in the Welsh language.

The term iâl in Welsh appears to mean ‘unproductive land, wasteland, wilderness’.

This etymology suggests a connection to areas regarded as barren or desolate.

As such, the name reflects the geographical characteristics of the region from which it originates.

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


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Where is the Yale family from?

You can see how Yale families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Yale family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Yale families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 60 Yale families living in Staffordshire. This was about 17% of all the recorded Yale's in United Kingdom. Staffordshire had the highest population of Yale families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Yale 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 Yale 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 Yale. 34% of Yale men worked as a Bricklayer and 90% of Yale women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Yale were Iron Foundry Fireman Heavy Worker and Silk Worker.

View Census Data for Yale | 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%
  • Bank Clerk
    17%
  • Iron Moulder
    17%
  • Iron Foundry Fireman Heavy Worker
    17%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    90%
  • Private Means
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Silk Worker
    2%

What Yale family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 24,000 census records available for the last name Yale. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Yale census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Yale

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Yale. 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 Yale immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 11,000 military records available for the last name Yale. For the veterans among your Yale ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Yale military records

You've only scratched the surface of Yale family history

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What is the average Yale lifespan?

Between 1952 and 2004, in the United States, Yale life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1952, and highest in 2001. The average life expectancy for Yale in 1952 was 43, and 70 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Yale

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Yale 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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