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Kensley Family History

Kensley Surname Meaning

From Kingsley (Hill) in Warbleton (Sussex) recorded as Kentchley Hill in 1840. From the evidence of the surname the place-name probably contains a genitival form of an Old English personal name *Cent + Old English lēah ‘woodland glade or clearing’.

Occasionally a variant of Kinsley.

Source: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain, 2021


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Where is the Kensley family from?

You can see how Kensley families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Kensley family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Kensley families were found in USA in 1880. In 1911 there were 21 Kensley families living in Ontario. This was about 70% of all the recorded Kensley's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Kensley families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Kensley 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 Kensley ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Housekeeper were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Kensley. 32% of Kensley men worked as a Laborer and 19% of Kensley women worked as a Housekeeper. Some less common occupations for Americans named Kensley were Salesman and Maid.

View Census Data for Kensley | 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.

United States shown, Canada data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    32%
  • Farmer
    29%
  • Miner
    6%
  • Salesman
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housekeeper
    19%
  • Housewife
    15%
  • Teacher
    15%
  • Maid
    15%

What Kensley family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 3,000 census records available for the last name Kensley. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Kensley census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Kensley

Passenger Lists

There are 320 immigration records available for the last name Kensley. 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 Kensley immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 278 military records available for the last name Kensley. For the veterans among your Kensley ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Kensley military records

You've only scratched the surface of Kensley family history

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What is the average Kensley lifespan?

Between 1963 and 2003, in the United States, Kensley life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1972, and highest in 1978. The average life expectancy for Kensley in 1963 was 79, and 67 in 2003.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Kensley

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Kensley 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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