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Rodley Family History

Rodley Surname Meaning

Chiefly from Rodley in Leeds (WR Yorks) which is recorded as Rotholflay Roʒolflay in about 1260 but sometimes from Rodley in Westbury on Severn (Gloucs) which is recorded as Rodele in 1086 and Redleg(a) Redley(e) Redlei(a) from 1100–1292 or perhaps from Rodley Farm in Lydney (Gloucs).

The WR Yorks place-name derives from the Old English personal name Hrōðwulf or the Old Scandinavian personal name Hróðúlfr + Old English lēah ‘wood woodland clearing’.

The Gloucs place-names derive from Old English hrēod ‘reed’ + lēah.

Source: The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland, 2016


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Where is the Rodley family from?

You can see how Rodley families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Rodley family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Rodley families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1911 there were 7 Rodley families living in Manitoba. This was about 47% of all the recorded Rodley's in Canada. Manitoba had the highest population of Rodley families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Rodley 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 Rodley ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Bookkeeper were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Rodley. 40% of Rodley men worked as a Laborer and 34% of Rodley women worked as a Bookkeeper. Some less common occupations for Americans named Rodley were Truck Driver and Clerk.

View Census Data for Rodley | 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
    40%
  • Salesman
    30%
  • Manager
    10%
  • Truck Driver
    10%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Bookkeeper
    34%
  • Waitress
    23%
  • Housewife
    23%
  • Clerk
    23%

What Rodley family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 5,000 census records available for the last name Rodley. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Rodley census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Rodley

Passenger Lists

There are 354 immigration records available for the last name Rodley. 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 Rodley immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 361 military records available for the last name Rodley. For the veterans among your Rodley ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Rodley military records

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What is the average Rodley lifespan?

Between 1959 and 2004, in the United States, Rodley life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1959, and highest in 2002. The average life expectancy for Rodley in 1959 was 48, and 67 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Rodley

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Rodley 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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