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Bursley Family History

Bursley Name Meaning

English: probably from a variant of Burslem in Staffordshire which is named from the Old English term burgweard ‘castle keeper’ (or the same word as a personal name) + Lyme the ancient Celtic name of the district in which the town is situated.

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


Similar surnames: Burnley, Burley, Bursey, Worsley, Hunsley, Hursey, Bardsley, Horsley

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 Bursley family from?

You can see how Bursley families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Bursley family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Bursley families were found in USA in 1920. In 1840 there were 8 Bursley families living in Massachusetts. This was about 53% of all the recorded Bursley's in USA. Massachusetts had the highest population of Bursley families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Bursley surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Bursley ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Stenographer were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Bursley. 40% of Bursley men worked as a Farmer and 60% of Bursley women worked as a Stenographer. Some less common occupations for Americans named Bursley were Salesman and Secretary. .

View Census Data for Bursley | 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
    40%
  • Laborer
    18%
  • Truck Driver
    15%
  • Salesman
    8%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Stenographer
    60%
  • Secretary
    40%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Bursley family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 2,000 census records available for the last name Bursley. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Bursley census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Bursley

Passenger Lists

There are 501 immigration records available for the last name Bursley. 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 Bursley immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 475 military records available for the last name Bursley. For the veterans among your Bursley ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Bursley military records

You've only scratched the surface of Bursley family history

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What is the average Bursley lifespan?

Between 1959 and 2004, in the United States, Bursley life expectancy was at its lowest point in 2003, and highest in 1995. The average life expectancy for Bursley in 1959 was 52, and 71 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Bursley

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