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Oatley Family History

Oatley Name Meaning

English:: habitational name from Oteley in Ellesmere Shropshire. The placename probably means ‘oat clearing’ from Old English āte ‘oat’ + lēah ‘open woodland’ but some forms suggest that the initial element is an Old English personal name Otta and that the final element is Old English halh ‘nook corner of land’. alternatively perhaps a habitational name from Oatley in Cannington Somerset.

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


Similar surnames: Oakley, Hatley, Ratley, Batley, Goatley, Ottley, Matley, Manley

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Oatley family from?

You can see how Oatley families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Oatley family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Oatley families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 82 Oatley families living in London. This was about 22% of all the recorded Oatley's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Oatley families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Oatley 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 Oatley ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Colliery Hewer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Oatley. 14% of Oatley men worked as a Colliery Hewer and 77% of Oatley women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Oatley were Old Age Pensioner and Unpaid Domestic Dut. .

View Census Data for Oatley | 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

  • Colliery Hewer
    14%
  • General Labourer
    14%
  • Lorry Driver Heavy Worker
    10%
  • Old Age Pensioner
    10%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    77%
  • Private Means
    3%
  • Unpaid Household Duties
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic Dut
    3%
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What Oatley family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 11,000 census records available for the last name Oatley. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Oatley census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Oatley

Passenger Lists

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

Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Oatley. For the veterans among your Oatley ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Oatley military records

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What is the average Oatley lifespan?

Between 1962 and 2004, in the United States, Oatley life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1978, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for Oatley in 1962 was 80, and 72 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Oatley

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