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

Hemley Family History

Hemley Name Meaning

variant of Embley .from Hemley (Suffolk) which is recorded as Helmelea in 1086. The place-name derives from the Old English personal name Helma + Old English lēah ‘wood woodland clearing’.

Source: The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland, 2016


Similar surnames: Henley, Hemsley, Healey, Emley, Hesley, Hedley, Remley, Hefley

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 Hemley family from?

You can see how Hemley families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Hemley family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Hemley families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1840 there were 2 Hemley families living in Ohio. This was about 50% of all the recorded Hemley's in USA. Ohio had the highest population of Hemley families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Hemley surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Hemley ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Stenographer were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Hemley. 33% of Hemley men worked as a Farmer and 28% of Hemley women worked as a Stenographer. Some less common occupations for Americans named Hemley were Salesman and Housework. .

View Census Data for Hemley | 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
    33%
  • Laborer
    30%
  • Farming
    11%
  • Salesman
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Stenographer
    28%
  • Housekeeper
    19%
  • School Teacher
    19%
  • Housework
    19%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Hemley family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 5,000 census records available for the last name Hemley. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Hemley census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Hemley

Passenger Lists

There are 404 immigration records available for the last name Hemley. 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 Hemley immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 345 military records available for the last name Hemley. For the veterans among your Hemley ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Hemley military records

You've only scratched the surface of Hemley family history

Discover More

What is the average Hemley lifespan?

Between 1964 and 2004, in the United States, Hemley life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1996, and highest in 1995. The average life expectancy for Hemley in 1964 was 57, and 85 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Hemley

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Hemley family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Hemley last name

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