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Cowlay Family History

Cowlay Surname Meaning

Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland.


Similar surnames: Cowley, Conway, Howley, Coley, Colby, Bowley, Copley, Corley, Clay

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Cowlay family from?

You can see how Cowlay families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Cowlay family name was found in the USA, Canada, and Scotland between 1871 and 1920. The most Cowlay families were found in USA in 1880. In 1911 there were 2 Cowlay families living in Ontario. This was 100% of all the recorded Cowlay's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Cowlay families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Cowlay 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 Cowlay family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 85 census records available for the last name Cowlay. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Cowlay census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Cowlay

Passenger Lists

There are 63 immigration records available for the last name Cowlay. 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.

View all Cowlay immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 10 military records available for the last name Cowlay. For the veterans among your Cowlay ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Cowlay military records

You've only scratched the surface of Cowlay family history

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What is the average Cowlay lifespan?

Average Cowlay life expectancy in 1973 was 22 years. This was lower than the general public life expectancy which was 70.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Cowlay

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Cowlay 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.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Cowlay family tree

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