Parsley Family History

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Parsley Name Meaning

English (of Norman origin): altered form of the medieval family name Passelewe (assimilated by folk etymology to the herb name parsley). The medieval name is from Old French passe(r) ‘to pass or cross’ + l’ewe ‘the water’, hence a nickname, probably for a ferryman or a merchant who was in the habit of traveling overseas, or else someone who had been on a pilgrimage or crusade. It may also have been used as a topographic name for someone who lived on the opposite side of a watercourse from the main settlement.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names ©2013, Oxford University Press


Similar surnames: Pasley, Paley, Harley, Pursley, Barley, Varley, Pawley, Worsley

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Parsley Ethnicity Estimate

What are the common regions with the Parsley name?

These results combine data from everyone in the AncestryDNA® database with the last name Parsley. The Ancestry® ethnicity regions shown are top five most common on average for these people.

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  • England & Wales

    58%

  • Ireland & Scotland

    20%

  • Germanic Europe

    5%

  • Norway

    3%

  • Eastern Europe & Russia

    2%

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Parsley Family Origin

Where is the Parsley family from?

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You can see how Parsley families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Parsley family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Parsley families were found in the USA in 1880. In 1911 there were 38 Parsley families living in Ontario. This was about 49% of all the recorded Parsley's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Parsley families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Parsley surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

View Census Data for Parsley

Parsley Family Occupations

What did your Parsley ancestors do for a living?

In 1881, the most common Parsley occupation in Canada was Clergyman. 14% of Parsley's were Clergymans. Clergyman, Fireman and Fisherman were the top 3 reported jobs worked by Parsley. A less common occupation for the Parsley family was Gentleman.

View Census data for Parsley | Data not to scale

  • Clergyman

    14%

  • Fireman

    14%

  • Fisherman

    14%

  • Gentleman

    14%

Census records can tell you a lot of little known facts about your Parsley ancestors, such as occupation. Occupation can tell you about your ancestor's social and economic status.

Parsley Historical Records

What Parsley family records will you find?

Census Record

There are 29,000 census records available for the last name Parsley. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Parsley census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search 1881 Canadian census records for Parsley

Passenger List

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Parsley. 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 Parsley immigration records

Draft Card

There are 4,000 military records available for the last name Parsley. For the veterans among your Parsley ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Parsley military records

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Parsley Life Expectancy

What is the average Parsley lifespan?

Between 1942 and 2004, in the United States, Parsley life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1950, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Parsley in 1942 was 33, and 77 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Parsley

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Parsley 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.

Famous Parsley Family Ancestors

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