Bowley Family History

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Bowley Name Meaning

English: habitational name from either of two places called Bowley, near Leominster in Herefordshire and in Devon. The first is named with Old English bula ‘bull’, perhaps a byname (see Bull) + leah ‘woodland clearing’. The second is from Old English boga ‘bow’, ‘river bend’ + leah.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names ©2013, Oxford University Press


Similar surnames: Howley, Cowley, Bodley, Rowley, Boxley, Bosley, Bowlby, Bromley

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Bowley Family Origin

Where is the Bowley family from?

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You can see how Bowley families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Bowley family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Bowley families were found in the UK in 1891. In 1891 there were 394 Bowley families living in London. This was about 18% of all the recorded Bowley's in the UK. London had the highest population of Bowley families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Bowley surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

View Census Data for Bowley

Bowley Family Occupations

What did your Bowley ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the UK named Bowley. 10% of Bowley men worked as a General Labourer and 75% of Bowley women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Bowley were Bricklayer and Incapacitated

View Census data for Bowley | Data not to scale

Top Male Occupations in 1939

  • General Labourer
    10%
  • Incapacitated
    8%
  • Dairy Farmer
    5%
  • Bricklayer
    5%

Top Female Occupations in 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    75%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Incapacitated
    2%

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Bowley Historical Records

What Bowley family records will you find?

Census Record

There are 47,000 census records available for the last name Bowley. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Bowley census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Bowley

Passenger List

There are 3,000 immigration records available for the last name Bowley. 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 Bowley immigration records

Draft Card

There are 4,000 military records available for the last name Bowley. For the veterans among your Bowley ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Bowley military records

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Bowley Life Expectancy

What is the average Bowley lifespan?

Between 1945 and 2004, in the United States, Bowley life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1958, and highest in 1976. The average life expectancy for Bowley in 1945 was 58, and 70 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Bowley

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Bowley 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.

Famous Bowley Family Ancestors

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