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Wensley Family History

Wensley Name Meaning

English:: in south western England probably a habitational name from Winsley (Wiltshire). The placename derives from the Old English personal name Wine (genitive Wines) + Old English lēah ‘wood woodland clearing’. in northern England (and perhaps in Lincolnshire by migration) mainly or wholly a habitational name from Wensley in North Yorkshire or possibly Wensley in Derbyshire or Winsley in Hartwith (Yorkshire). The North Yorkshire placename derives from the Old English personal name Wændel (genitive Wændles) + Old English lēah ‘wood woodland clearing’. The Derbyshire placename derives from Old English Wōden (genitive Wōd(e)nes) the name of a heathen Germanic god + lēah. The Yorkshire placename probably derives from the Old English personal name Wine (genitive Wines) + Old English hlāw ‘mound hill’. in Shropshire probably from Winsley in Westbury (Shropshire). The placename derives from the Old English personal name Wine (genitive Wines) + Old English lēah ‘wood woodland clearing’.

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


Similar surnames: Wansley, Densley, Bensley, Hensley, Wesley, Hemsley, Winkley

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Where is the Wensley family from?

You can see how Wensley families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Wensley family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1841 and 1920. The most Wensley families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 126 Wensley families living in Lancashire. This was about 21% of all the recorded Wensley's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Wensley families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Wensley 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 Wensley ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Dairy Farmer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Wensley. 14% of Wensley men worked as a Dairy Farmer and 71% of Wensley women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Wensley were Incapacitated and Unpaid Domestic. .

View Census Data for Wensley | 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

  • Dairy Farmer
    14%
  • Gardener
    11%
  • Farmer
    9%
  • Incapacitated
    9%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    71%
  • Cotton Weaver
    4%
  • Incapacitated
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    2%
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What Wensley family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 14,000 census records available for the last name Wensley. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Wensley census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Wensley

Passenger Lists

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

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Draft Cards

There are 776 military records available for the last name Wensley. For the veterans among your Wensley ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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What is the average Wensley lifespan?

Between 1961 and 2003, in the United States, Wensley life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1961, and highest in 1997. The average life expectancy for Wensley in 1961 was 33, and 66 in 2003.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Wensley

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