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Hemsley Family History

Hemsley Name Meaning

English: habitational name either from Helmsley (North Yorkshire) or Gate Helmsley (also North Yorkshire). Gate Helmsley derives from the Old English personal name Hemele (genitive Hemeles) + Old English ēg ‘island’ and had the form Hemelsey till at least the 14th century. The other placename derives from the Old English personal name Helm (genitive Helmes) + Old English lēah ‘woodland clearing’.

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


Similar surnames: Hensley, Hesley, Heasley, Healey, Chesley, Hansley, Heatley, Emley

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Hemsley family from?

You can see how Hemsley families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Hemsley family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Hemsley families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1840 there were 8 Hemsley families living in Maryland. This was about 73% of all the recorded Hemsley's in USA. Maryland had the highest population of Hemsley families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Hemsley surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
  • 1840
  • 1880
  • 1920
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What did your Hemsley ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Maid were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Hemsley. 26% of Hemsley men worked as a Laborer and 28% of Hemsley women worked as a Maid. Some less common occupations for Americans named Hemsley were Truck Driver and Clerk. .

View Census Data for Hemsley | 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 1940

  • Laborer
    26%
  • Farmer
    24%
  • Salesman
    8%
  • Truck Driver
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Maid
    28%
  • Housewife
    23%
  • House Work
    12%
  • Clerk
    6%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Hemsley family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 30,000 census records available for the last name Hemsley. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Hemsley census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Hemsley

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Hemsley. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Hemsley immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 2,000 military records available for the last name Hemsley. For the veterans among your Hemsley ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Hemsley military records

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What is the average Hemsley lifespan?

Between 1954 and 2004, in the United States, Hemsley life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1975, and highest in 2000. The average life expectancy for Hemsley in 1954 was 56, and 76 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Hemsley

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