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Gayles Family History

Gayles Name Meaning

English: variant of Gale with post-medieval excrescent -s. Possibly also an Americanized form of German Gölz (see Goelz ).

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


Similar surnames: Gales, Gayler, Gayle, Gyles, Bayles, Gailes, Hayles, Gaynes, Alles

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 Gayles family from?

You can see how Gayles families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Gayles family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Gayles families were found in USA in 1920. In 1840 there was 1 Gayles family living in Virginia. This was 100% of all the recorded Gayles's in USA. Virginia had the highest population of Gayles families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Gayles 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 Gayles ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Maid were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Gayles. 59% of Gayles men worked as a Laborer and 32% of Gayles women worked as a Maid. Some less common occupations for Americans named Gayles were Night Watchman and New Worker. .

View Census Data for Gayles | 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
    59%
  • Farmer
    16%
  • Truck Driver
    4%
  • Night Watchman
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Maid
    32%
  • Domestic
    19%
  • Servant
    14%
  • New Worker
    10%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Gayles family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search US census records for Gayles

Passenger Lists

There are 102 immigration records available for the last name Gayles. 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 Gayles immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 696 military records available for the last name Gayles. For the veterans among your Gayles ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Gayles military records

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What is the average Gayles lifespan?

Between 1948 and 2004, in the United States, Gayles life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1948, and highest in 1965. The average life expectancy for Gayles in 1948 was 48, and 56 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Gayles

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