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

Harnly Family History

Harnly Name Meaning

Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland.


Similar surnames: Harney, Hanly, Harvey, Hartley, Harold, Hanley, Early, Harle, Hornby

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 Harnly family from?

You can see how Harnly families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Harnly family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Harnly families were found in USA in 1920. In 1840 there were 2 Harnly families living in New York. This was about 67% of all the recorded Harnly's in USA. New York had the highest population of Harnly families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Harnly surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Harnly ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Seamstress were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Harnly. 50% of Harnly men worked as a Laborer and 50% of Harnly women worked as a Seamstress. Some less common occupations for Americans named Harnly were Twiste Runner and Assist Mankfrato. .

View Census Data for Harnly | 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
    50%
  • Farmer
    38%
  • Twiste Runner
    13%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Seamstress
    50%
  • Assist Mankfrato
    50%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Harnly family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search US census records for Harnly

Passenger Lists

There are 176 immigration records available for the last name Harnly. 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 Harnly immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 182 military records available for the last name Harnly. For the veterans among your Harnly ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Harnly military records

You've only scratched the surface of Harnly family history

Discover More

What is the average Harnly lifespan?

Between 1964 and 2004, in the United States, Harnly life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1984, and highest in 1973. The average life expectancy for Harnly in 1964 was 77, and 67 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Harnly

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Harnly family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Harnly last name

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