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Worley Family History

Worley Name Meaning

English:: habitational name with different origins. In the West Midlands this surname is most probably derived from Great or Little Wyrley in Norton Canes (Staffordshire). The placenames derive from Old English wīr ‘bog myrtle’ + lēah ‘wood woodland clearing’. In the East Midlands the name is possibly from Worlick in Ramsey (Huntingdonshire) the etymology of the which is uncertain. In northern England possibly from Whirley in Over Alderley (Cheshire) which has the same etymology as the Staffordshire names. There may also be a further unlocated source of this habitational name in southern England. possibly an irregular variant of Wortley or Warley .

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


Similar surnames: Worsley, Wortley, Morley, Wormley, Corley, Willey, Woolley, Worl

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Where is the Worley family from?

You can see how Worley families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Worley family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Worley families were found in USA in 1880. In 1911 there were 54 Worley families living in Ontario. This was about 75% of all the recorded Worley's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Worley families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Worley 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 Worley ancestors do for a living?

In 1921, Farmer and Housewife were the top reported jobs for men and women in the Canada named Worley. 30% of Worley men worked as a Farmer and 50% of Worley women worked as a Housewife. Some less common occupations for Americans named Worley were Shipper and Housekeeper. .

View Census Data for Worley | 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 1921

  • Farmer
    30%
  • Labourer
    19%
  • Laborer
    12%
  • Shipper
    12%

Top Female Occupations In 1921

  • Housewife
    50%
  • Housekeeper
    50%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Worley family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 108,000 census records available for the last name Worley. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Worley census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Worley

Passenger Lists

There are 4,000 immigration records available for the last name Worley. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

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Draft Cards

There are 22,000 military records available for the last name Worley. For the veterans among your Worley ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Worley military records

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What is the average Worley lifespan?

Between 1944 and 2004, in the United States, Worley life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1945, and highest in 2000. The average life expectancy for Worley in 1944 was 41, and 74 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Worley

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