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Shawley Family History

Shawley Name Meaning

English (Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire): habitational name from Shrawley (Worcestershire) from Old English scræf ‘hollow hovel’ + lēah ‘open woodland’. The -r- in the initial consonant cluster has been lost in the surname.

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


Similar surnames: Thawley, Shatley, Harley, Halley, Shibley, Stailey, Crawley, Shiley

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Shawley family from?

You can see how Shawley families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Shawley family name was found in the USA, and the UK between 1840 and 1920. The most Shawley families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 26 Shawley families living in Northamptonshire. This was about 34% of all the recorded Shawley's in United Kingdom. Northamptonshire had the highest population of Shawley families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Shawley surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Shawley ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Master Farmer Heavy Worker and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Shawley. 50% of Shawley men worked as a Master Farmer Heavy Worker and 86% of Shawley women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Shawley were Club Steward and Housewife. .

View Census Data for Shawley | 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

  • Master Farmer Heavy Worker
    50%
  • Club Steward
    50%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    86%
  • Domestic Duties Unpaid
    8%
  • Housewife
    8%
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What Shawley family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 4,000 census records available for the last name Shawley. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Shawley census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Shawley

Passenger Lists

There are 293 immigration records available for the last name Shawley. 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 Shawley immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 906 military records available for the last name Shawley. For the veterans among your Shawley ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Shawley military records

You've only scratched the surface of Shawley family history

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What is the average Shawley lifespan?

Between 1960 and 2004, in the United States, Shawley life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1960, and highest in 1998. The average life expectancy for Shawley in 1960 was 34, and 71 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Shawley

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