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Sawley Family History

Sawley Surname Meaning

Probably usually from Sawley (WR Yorks) near Clitheroe in Lancs, as suggested in Redmonds Dictionary of Yorks Surnames, since it was in this area that the modern name chiefly ramified. However, Sawley near Ripon (WR Yorks) and Sawley (Derbys) also gave rise to surnames in the medieval period.

The WR Yorks place-names are both recorded as Sallai(a) in the medieval period and derive from Old English salh ‘willow, sallow’ + lēah ‘wood, woodland clearing’. The Derbys place-name which is recorded as Sallaw(a) and Sallawe from the 12th to 14th centuries derives from Old English salh + hlāw ‘mound, hill’.

Compare Sall.

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


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Where is the Sawley family from?

You can see how Sawley families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Sawley family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1840 and 1920. The most Sawley families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1911 there were 6 Sawley families living in Ontario. This was about 60% of all the recorded Sawley's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Sawley families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Sawley 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 Sawley ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Apprentice Mason (store) and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Sawley. 50% of Sawley men worked as an Apprentice Mason (store) and 88% of Sawley women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Sawley were Textile Engineer and House Wife.

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*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

England shown, Canada data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • Apprentice Mason (store)
    50%
  • Textile Engineer
    50%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    88%
  • Housekeeper
    7%
  • House Wife
    7%

What Sawley family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 3,000 census records available for the last name Sawley. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Sawley census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Sawley

Passenger Lists

There are 285 immigration records available for the last name Sawley. 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.

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Draft Cards

There are 278 military records available for the last name Sawley. For the veterans among your Sawley ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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You've only scratched the surface of Sawley family history

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What is the average Sawley lifespan?

Between 1953 and 2003, in the United States, Sawley life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1992, and highest in 1991. The average life expectancy for Sawley in 1953 was 76, and 76 in 2003.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Sawley

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Sawley 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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