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Klay Family History

Klay Surname Meaning

German and Swiss German (also Kläy): variant of Kley.

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


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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Klay family from?

You can see how Klay families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Klay family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Klay families were found in USA in 1920. In 1911 there were 2 Klay families living in British Columbia. This was about 67% of all the recorded Klay's in Canada. British Columbia had the highest population of Klay families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Klay 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 Klay ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Secretary were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Klay. 19% of Klay men worked as a Farmer and 15% of Klay women worked as a Secretary. Some less common occupations for Americans named Klay were Truck Driver and Clerk.

View Census Data for Klay | 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

  • Farmer
    19%
  • Laborer
    19%
  • Rancher
    13%
  • Truck Driver
    11%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Secretary
    15%
  • Clerical
    15%
  • Housewife
    15%
  • Clerk
    10%

What Klay family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search Canadian census records for Klay

Passenger Lists

There are 408 immigration records available for the last name Klay. 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 Klay immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 545 military records available for the last name Klay. For the veterans among your Klay ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Klay military records

You've only scratched the surface of Klay family history

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What is the average Klay lifespan?

Between 1955 and 2004, in the United States, Klay life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1974, and highest in 1993. The average life expectancy for Klay in 1955 was 63, and 80 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Klay

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Klay 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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