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

Wails Family History

Wails 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: Fails, Walls, Vails, Nails, Hails, Swails, Bails, Wahls, Wais, Wailes

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 Wails family from?

You can see how Wails families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Wails family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Wails families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 4 Wails families living in Ohio. This was about 44% of all the recorded Wails's in USA. Ohio had the highest population of Wails families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Wails surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
  • 1840
  • 1880
  • 1920
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Wails ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Packer were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Wails. 46% of Wails men worked as a Laborer and 25% of Wails women worked as a Packer. Some less common occupations for Americans named Wails were Truck Driver and Operator Power Machine. .

View Census Data for Wails | 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
    37%
  • Truck Driver
    19%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Packer
    25%
  • Housekeeper
    25%
  • Farmer
    25%
  • Operator Power Machine
    25%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Wails family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search US census records for Wails

Passenger Lists

There are 41 immigration records available for the last name Wails. 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 Wails immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 278 military records available for the last name Wails. For the veterans among your Wails ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Wails military records

You've only scratched the surface of Wails family history

Discover More

What is the average Wails lifespan?

Between 1960 and 2003, in the United States, Wails life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1960, and highest in 1992. The average life expectancy for Wails in 1960 was 47, and 70 in 2003.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Wails

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Wails family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Wails last name

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