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Elmsly Family History

Elmsly 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: Elsey, Emily, Helmly, Elms, Lilly, Early, Elson, Elmer, Hemsley

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Elmsly family from?

You can see how Elmsly families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Elmsly family name was found in the USA, and Scotland between 1841 and 1920. The most Elmsly families were found in and Scotland in 1841. In 1841 there were 2 Elmsly families living in Aberdeenshire. This was about 40% of all the recorded Elmsly's in Scotland. Aberdeenshire had the highest population of Elmsly families in 1841.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Elmsly surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
  • 1841
  • 1851
  • 1861
  • 1881
  • 1891
  • 1901
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What Elmsly family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 760 census records available for the last name Elmsly. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Elmsly census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Elmsly

Passenger Lists

There are 35 immigration records available for the last name Elmsly. 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 Elmsly immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 44 military records available for the last name Elmsly. For the veterans among your Elmsly ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Elmsly military records

You've only scratched the surface of Elmsly family history

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What is the average Elmsly lifespan?

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Elmsly 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.

Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Elmsly

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