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Pearley Family History

Pearley Name Meaning

Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland.


Similar surnames: Cearley, Perley, Earley, Kearley, Peasley, Pearcey, Barley, Early

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Pearley family from?

You can see how Pearley families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Pearley family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Pearley families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 2 Pearley families living in Maine. This was about 29% of all the recorded Pearley's in USA. Maine and 1 other state had the highest population of Pearley families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Pearley 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 Pearley ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Housekeeper were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Pearley. 40% of Pearley men worked as a Laborer and 43% of Pearley women worked as a Housekeeper. Some less common occupations for Americans named Pearley were Farm Helper and Clerk. .

View Census Data for Pearley | 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
    40%
  • Farmer
    15%
  • Farm Operator
    8%
  • Farm Helper
    8%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housekeeper
    43%
  • Housewife
    22%
  • Inspector
    16%
  • Clerk
    11%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Pearley family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1,000 census records available for the last name Pearley. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Pearley census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Pearley

Passenger Lists

There are 71 immigration records available for the last name Pearley. 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 Pearley immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 129 military records available for the last name Pearley. For the veterans among your Pearley ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Pearley military records

You've only scratched the surface of Pearley family history

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What is the average Pearley lifespan?

Between 1972 and 2003, in the United States, Pearley life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1980, and highest in 2002. The average life expectancy for Pearley in 1972 was 61, and 80 in 2003.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Pearley

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