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

Gordley Family History

Gordley Name Meaning

Probably an Americanized form of German Gördeler a variant of Gürtler (see Gurtler ).

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


Similar surnames: Girdley, Goodley, Girdler, Gorley, Gartley, Gockley, Gurley, Cordle

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 Gordley family from?

You can see how Gordley families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Gordley family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Gordley families were found in USA in 1920. In 1840 there were 2 Gordley families living in Illinois. This was about 40% of all the recorded Gordley's in USA. Illinois and 1 other state had the highest population of Gordley families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Gordley surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Gordley ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Saleslady were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Gordley. 46% of Gordley men worked as a Laborer and 50% of Gordley women worked as a Saleslady. Some less common occupations for Americans named Gordley were Labor and Housekeeper. .

View Census Data for Gordley | 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
    46%
  • Farmer
    25%
  • Farm Laborer
    13%
  • Labor
    9%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Saleslady
    50%
  • Housekeeper
    50%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Gordley family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search US census records for Gordley

Passenger Lists

There are 90 immigration records available for the last name Gordley. 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 Gordley immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 191 military records available for the last name Gordley. For the veterans among your Gordley ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Gordley military records

You've only scratched the surface of Gordley family history

Discover More

What is the average Gordley lifespan?

Between 1957 and 2004, in the United States, Gordley life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1990, and highest in 1994. The average life expectancy for Gordley in 1957 was 32, and 68 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Gordley

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Gordley family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Gordley last name

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