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Kesley Family History

Kesley 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: Kenley, Keeley, Wesley, Hesley, Kerley, Kealey, Kegley, Lesley

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Kesley family from?

You can see how Kesley families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Kesley family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Kesley families were found in USA in 1880. In 1911 there were 4 Kesley families living in British Columbia. This was about 36% of all the recorded Kesley's in Canada. British Columbia had the highest population of Kesley families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Kesley 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 Kesley ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Teacher were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Kesley. 32% of Kesley men worked as a Laborer and 25% of Kesley women worked as a Teacher. Some less common occupations for Americans named Kesley were Cement Finisher and Cook.

View Census Data for Kesley | 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
    21%
  • Machinist
    14%
  • Cement Finisher
    7%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Teacher
    25%
  • Waitress
    25%
  • Housekeeper
    17%
  • Cook
    17%

What Kesley family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 2,000 census records available for the last name Kesley. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Kesley census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Kesley

Passenger Lists

There are 254 immigration records available for the last name Kesley. 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 Kesley immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 216 military records available for the last name Kesley. For the veterans among your Kesley ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Kesley military records

You've only scratched the surface of Kesley family history

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What is the average Kesley lifespan?

Between 1964 and 2001, in the United States, Kesley life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1965, and highest in 1985. The average life expectancy for Kesley in 1964 was 70, and 80 in 2001.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Kesley

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Kesley 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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