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Beckley Family History

Beckley Name Meaning

English: habitational name from any of the various places, in Kent, Oxfordshire, and Sussex, named Beckley, from the Old English byname Becca (see Beck 4) + Old English leah ‘woodland clearing’. Altered spelling of the South German and Swiss topographic names Bächle, Bächli (see Bach 1).

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names ©2013, Oxford University Press


Similar surnames: Buckley, Bickley, Checkley, Beckles, Reckley, Beckey, Beeley, Bexley

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 Beckley family from?

You can see how Beckley families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Beckley family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Beckley families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 19 Beckley families living in Ohio. This was about 17% of all the recorded Beckley's in USA. Ohio had the highest population of Beckley families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Beckley 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 Beckley ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Teacher were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Beckley. 18% of Beckley men worked as a Farmer and 12% of Beckley women worked as a Teacher. Some less common occupations for Americans named Beckley were Clerk and Maid. .

View Census Data for Beckley | 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
    18%
  • Laborer
    15%
  • Salesman
    6%
  • Clerk
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Teacher
    12%
  • Housewife
    9%
  • Housekeeper
    7%
  • Maid
    7%
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What Beckley family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 45,000 census records available for the last name Beckley. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Beckley census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Beckley

Passenger Lists

There are 3,000 immigration records available for the last name Beckley. 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 Beckley immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 6,000 military records available for the last name Beckley. For the veterans among your Beckley ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Beckley military records

You've only scratched the surface of Beckley family history

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What is the average Beckley lifespan?

Between 1943 and 2004, in the United States, Beckley life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1947, and highest in 1992. The average life expectancy for Beckley in 1943 was 48, and 79 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Beckley

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