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Wesley Family History

Wesley Surname Meaning

English: habitational name from any of various places called with the Old English elements west ‘west’ + lēah ‘wood woodland clearing’ as for example Westley in Cambridgeshire and Suffolk.

Westleigh in Devon and Greater Manchester is another notable place with this naming origin.

The combination of these elements signifies a location situated to the west, often involving a wooded area or clearing.

Such names often reflect the geographical features and natural surroundings of the regions they denote.

The use of the Old English language in these names indicates their historical significance and cultural heritage.

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


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Where is the Wesley family from?

You can see how Wesley families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Wesley family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Wesley families were found in USA in 1880. In 1911 there were 195 Wesley families living in Ontario. This was about 33% of all the recorded Wesley's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Wesley families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Wesley 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 Wesley ancestors do for a living?

In 1921, Farmer and Labourer were the top reported jobs for men and women in the Canada named Wesley. 21% of Wesley men worked as a Farmer and 38% of Wesley women worked as a Labourer. Some less common occupations for Americans named Wesley were Laborer and Nil.

View Census Data for Wesley | 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.

Top Male Occupations In 1921

  • Farmer
    21%
  • Labourer
    18%
  • Fisherman
    9%
  • Laborer
    7%

Top Female Occupations In 1921

  • Labourer
    38%
  • Servant
    13%
  • Nurse
    10%
  • Nil
    10%

What Wesley family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 95,000 census records available for the last name Wesley. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Wesley census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Wesley

Passenger Lists

There are 7,000 immigration records available for the last name Wesley. 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 Wesley immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 16,000 military records available for the last name Wesley. For the veterans among your Wesley ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Wesley military records

You've only scratched the surface of Wesley family history

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What is the average Wesley lifespan?

Between 1944 and 2004, in the United States, Wesley life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 1999. The average life expectancy for Wesley in 1944 was 23, and 67 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Wesley

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Wesley 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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