History of your Surname
Get access to Nisley family records.Start a free trial

Nisley Family History

Nisley Name Meaning

Variant of Nissley a surname of Swiss German or German origin.

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


Similar surnames: Nisly, Eisley, Nissley, Nicley, Isley, Sisler, Gisler, Ousley, Disney

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Nisley family from?

You can see how Nisley families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Nisley family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Nisley families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 2 Nisley families living in Pennsylvania. This was about 50% of all the recorded Nisley's in USA. Pennsylvania had the highest population of Nisley families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Nisley surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Nisley ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Clerk were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Nisley. 43% of Nisley men worked as a Farmer and 22% of Nisley women worked as a Clerk. Some less common occupations for Americans named Nisley were Janitor and Servant. .

View Census Data for Nisley | 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

  • Farmer
    43%
  • Laborer
    17%
  • Farming
    12%
  • Janitor
    7%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Clerk
    22%
  • Stitcher
    22%
  • Stenographer
    15%
  • Servant
    15%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Nisley family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search US census records for Nisley

Passenger Lists

There are 95 immigration records available for the last name Nisley. 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 Nisley immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 462 military records available for the last name Nisley. For the veterans among your Nisley ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Nisley military records

You've only scratched the surface of Nisley family history

Discover More

What is the average Nisley lifespan?

Between 1951 and 2004, in the United States, Nisley life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1951, and highest in 1988. The average life expectancy for Nisley in 1951 was 30, and 80 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Nisley

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Nisley family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Nisley last name

Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial