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Kessley Family History

Kessley 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: Kessler, Kressley, Lessley, Nissley, Kessel, Hemsley, Tessler

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Kessley family from?

You can see how Kessley families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Kessley family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Scotland between 1880 and 1920. The most Kessley families were found in USA in 1880. In 1880 there were 14 Kessley families living in Pennsylvania. This was about 93% of all the recorded Kessley's in USA. Pennsylvania had the highest population of Kessley families in 1880.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Kessley 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 Kessley ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Cook were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Kessley. 47% of Kessley men worked as a Laborer and 50% of Kessley women worked as a Cook. Some less common occupations for Americans named Kessley were Proprietor and Operator.

View Census Data for Kessley | 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
    47%
  • Farmer
    20%
  • Farm Helper
    20%
  • Proprietor
    14%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Cook
    50%
  • Operator
    50%

What Kessley family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 371 census records available for the last name Kessley. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Kessley census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Kessley

Passenger Lists

There are 45 immigration records available for the last name Kessley. 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 Kessley immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 42 military records available for the last name Kessley. For the veterans among your Kessley ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Kessley military records

You've only scratched the surface of Kessley family history

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What is the average Kessley lifespan?

Between 1974 and 2003, in the United States, Kessley life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1974, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for Kessley in 1974 was 50, and 73 in 2003.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Kessley

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Kessley 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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