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Hatley Family History

Hatley Surname Meaning

English: habitational name from East Hatley (Cambridgeshire) Hatley Saint George (Cambridgeshire) or Hatley Cockayne (Bedfordshire). The placenames probably derive either from an Old English personal name Hætta or an earlier placename Hætte (from Old English hætt ‘hat hat-shaped hill’).

Additionally, the suffix in the placenames, Old English lēah, translates to ‘woodland clearing’. This indicates a connection to areas cleared for settlement or agriculture in a wooded region.

Habitational names such as these often provide insights into the geographical and cultural history of the locations they reference.

It is worth noting that variations in place names across regions can lead to different interpretations based on local vernacular and history.

For further comparison, one could also consider the name Hatt, which may hold relevance in studying the etymology of these names.

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


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Where is the Hatley family from?

You can see how Hatley families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Hatley family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Hatley families were found in USA in 1880. In 1911 there were 20 Hatley families living in Ontario. This was about 45% of all the recorded Hatley's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Hatley families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Hatley 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 Hatley ancestors do for a living?

In 1921, Labourer and Operator were the top reported jobs for men and women in the Canada named Hatley. 50% of Hatley men worked as a Labourer and 100% of Hatley women worked as an Operator.

View Census Data for Hatley | 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

  • Labourer
    50%
  • Farmer
    50%

Top Female Occupations In 1921

  • Operator
    100%

What Hatley family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 26,000 census records available for the last name Hatley. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Hatley census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Hatley

Passenger Lists

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

Draft Cards

There are 5,000 military records available for the last name Hatley. For the veterans among your Hatley ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Hatley military records

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What is the average Hatley lifespan?

Between 1944 and 2004, in the United States, Hatley life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1945, and highest in 1999. The average life expectancy for Hatley in 1944 was 31, and 74 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Hatley

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Hatley 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.

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