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

Briley Family History

Briley Name Meaning

Irish: Anglicized form of Ó Brólaigh see Brawley . English: habitational name from Brilley in Bridstow (Herefordshire) a local variant of the name that usually develops as Bromley . In some cases also an Americanized form of Slovenian Brilej: nickname derived from dialect briliti ‘to shave’ hence apparently denoting a barber.

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


Similar surnames: Brimley, Bailey, Brinley, Braley, Riley, Bruley, Briney, Brinkley

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 Briley family from?

You can see how Briley families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Briley family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Briley families were found in USA in 1920. In 1840 there were 13 Briley families living in Tennessee. This was about 25% of all the recorded Briley's in USA. Tennessee had the highest population of Briley families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Briley surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Briley ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Housekeeper were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Briley. 27% of Briley men worked as a Farmer and 12% of Briley women worked as a Housekeeper. Some less common occupations for Americans named Briley were Farm Laborer and Cook. .

View Census Data for Briley | 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
    27%
  • Laborer
    19%
  • Truck Driver
    5%
  • Farm Laborer
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housekeeper
    12%
  • Maid
    8%
  • Housewife
    8%
  • Cook
    7%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Briley family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 26,000 census records available for the last name Briley. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Briley census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Briley

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Briley. 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 Briley immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 4,000 military records available for the last name Briley. For the veterans among your Briley ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Briley military records

You've only scratched the surface of Briley family history

Discover More

What is the average Briley lifespan?

Between 1944 and 2004, in the United States, Briley life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 1993. The average life expectancy for Briley in 1944 was 32, and 72 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Briley

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Briley family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Briley last name

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