The Lilley surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 7,780 people carried this name — #4,557 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 37,900 people counted. That is up 3% from 7,589 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Lilley surname

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as a baptismal name, from a given name: ‘the son of Lily’ — the first of the origins he gives.

An early record he cites: Geoffrey Lilion, Bedfordshire, 1273 — Hundred Rolls.

His entry covers Lilly, Lilley, Lillee and Lilie.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 483 · public domain.

Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s

Lilley was found among the farmers of Lincolnshire: 9 in every 10,000.

Guppy counted the farmers listed in each county’s directory and recorded a name only where it reached about 7 in every 10,000; where it does not appear, it was rarer than that, not absent.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Per 10,000 farmers, by county

Lincolnshire 9

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), alphabetical list of English and Welsh names — public domain · farmers in Kelly’s Post Office Directories of the 1880s, per 10,000 farmers in each county.

In print

Lilley in American newspapers,
1908.

Newspaper page from Daily Kennebec Journal carrying the name Lilley
Daily Kennebec Journal 1908-03-13
Newspaper page from Daily Kennebec Journal carrying the name Lilley
Daily Kennebec Journal 1908-04-24
Newspaper page from The Billings Gazette carrying the name Lilley
The Billings Gazette 1908-05-22

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 34,385 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Lilley in Australian newspapers,
1820s–2010s.

49,099 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Lilley. The most, 7,906, date from the 1870s. Weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, it stands out most in Queensland, at 4.2 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

Queensland 33,919
Victoria 6,687
New South Wales 5,209
Western Australia 1,226
Tasmania 986
South Australia 767
ACT (Canberra) 274
Northern Territory 6

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Lilley.

Who carried it

People named Lilley,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Charles Lilley
    Charles Lilley 1827–1897 · judge
  • Mial Eben Lilley
    Mial Eben Lilley 1850–1915 · lawyer
  • Charles S. Lilley
    Charles S. Lilley 1851–1921 · politician
  • George L. Lilley
    George L. Lilley 1859–1909 · politician
  • Charlie Lilley
    Charlie Lilley 1892–1982 · Australian rules football player
  • Alfred Lilley 1860–1948 · Anglican priest

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Lilley,
in the records of 7 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States723 records

723 records of the Lilley name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 314
  • Passenger arrivals in the United States, 1820–1912 97
  • Other U.S. records 312
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Kenneth E. Lilley

    Born 1924 in Pennsylvania. Enlisted 1942 at Greensburg; auto mechanic from Fayette County. U.S. Army veteran; died 1998, buried at Mount Olive Cemetery, Connellsville, Pennsylvania.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Joseph Emmett Lilley

    Born 1945; from Mobile, Alabama. U.S. Marine Corps, rifleman; killed in action 1966 in Quang Nam, South Vietnam.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Sarah Lilley

    Arrived at New York in 1872 aboard the Calabria from Liverpool and Queenstown, aged 24; matron. From England.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 723 records for Lilley in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · New York State, Open NY (police and firefighter memorial rolls) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Australia809 records

809 records of the Lilley name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 351
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 162
  • Other Australian records 296
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record James Lilley

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Lady East, sailing from Falmouth in 1824. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1839.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Edward Mulhearin Lilley

    Died 1873 in Hobart, Tasmania, aged 67. Will registered in Tasmania in 1873.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record George Frederick Lilley

    Born 1886 in Hobart, Tasmania. Died 1905 in Tasmania, aged 19.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 809 records for Lilley in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

New Zealand98 records

98 records of the Lilley name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 83
  • Waimakariri District cemetery records, Canterbury 7
  • Other New Zealand records 8
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Jack Charles Lilley

    Died 1977, aged 57; buried at Memorial Park Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Arthur Lilley

    Died 1923, aged 59; buried at Omaka Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Leslie James Lilley

    Born 1906, died 1996; buried at Rangiora Lawn Cemetery, Canterbury.

    Waimakariri District Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 98 records for Lilley in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Waimakariri District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

Canada51 records

51 records of the Lilley name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 26
  • City of Calgary cemetery records 6
  • Other Canadian records 19
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Civil record Stephen Paul Lilley

    Killed in 1992 at the Stellarton, Westray Mine, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Mary Magdelena Martha Lilley

    Buried in 1990 at Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 71.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Walter Lilley

    Buried in 1987 at Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver, British Columbia.

    City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver.

Showing 3 of 51 records for Lilley in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).

United Kingdom44 records

44 records of the Lilley name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 36
  • St James's burial ground, Euston (London), 1789–1853 7
  • Welsh wills index cards 1
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Mary Lilley

    Buried in 1806 at St James's burial ground, Euston, London, aged 56.

    MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Louis James Lilley

    Will proved in 1925; of Sketty, Swansea.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)
  3. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record G. H. Lilley

    Devonshire Regiment. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1919.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 3 of 44 records for Lilley in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

France3 records

3 records of the Lilley name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Mark Newlands Lilley

    Born 1965 in the United Kingdom; died 1990 in Caen (Calvados).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Norman James Lilley

    Born 1944 in the United Kingdom; died 1990 in Bayeux (Calvados).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 2 of 3 records for Lilley in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Netherlands3 records

3 records of the Lilley name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 2
  • Dutch population registers 1
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Pieter Lilley

    Married in 1760 in Rotterdam; born in Norway.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Population register Berta Lilley

    In the population register of 's-Gravenhage; born 1909 in Eggenburg.

    Open Archives, Haags Gemeentearchief (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 2 of 3 records for Lilley in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Lilley.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Lilley is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

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