This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Horsley family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Horsley Family History

Horsley Surname Meaning

English (Northeastern England): habitational name from any of various places called with Old English hors ‘horse’ + lēah ‘woodland clearing’ such as Horsley (Derbyshire, Gloucestershire), Long Horsley (Northumberland), and Horseley Hills Farm in Wolverley (Worcestershire).

These names likely refer to locations associated with horses and their grazing habits.

The combination of the elements ‘horse’ and ‘woodland clearing’ suggests a landscape where horses were put out to pasture.

Such place names are significant in understanding the historical utilization of land in northeastern England.

This naming convention illustrates the relationship between the environment and livestock practices in the region.

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


Similar surnames: 

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Horsley family from?

You can see how Horsley families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Horsley family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Horsley families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1911 there were 56 Horsley families living in Ontario. This was about 65% of all the recorded Horsley's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Horsley families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Horsley surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Horsley ancestors do for a living?

In 1921, Farmer was the top reported job for people in the Canada named Horsley. 50% of Horsley men worked as a Farmer.

View Census Data for Horsley | 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
    50%
  • Laborer
    14%
  • Labourer
    14%
  • Income
    8%

What Horsley family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 66,000 census records available for the last name Horsley. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Horsley census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Horsley

Passenger Lists

There are 4,000 immigration records available for the last name Horsley. 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 Horsley immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 7,000 military records available for the last name Horsley. For the veterans among your Horsley ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Horsley military records

You've only scratched the surface of Horsley family history

Discover More

What is the average Horsley lifespan?

Between 1945 and 2004, in the United States, Horsley life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1955, and highest in 2000. The average life expectancy for Horsley in 1945 was 41, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Horsley

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Horsley 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 Horsley family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial