Find out how popular the last name Ackerley is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Ackerley.

Ackerley, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Ackerley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ackerley in America

Ackerley is the 42511th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ackerley surname appeared 510 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Ackerley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ackerley to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Ackerley

The surname Ackerley has its roots in England and dates back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "æcer" meaning a field or cultivated land, and "leah" meaning a meadow or clearing in a forest. The name likely originated as a descriptive term for someone who lived near or worked on a field or clearing.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is spelled "Acherley." This vital historical document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, records land ownership and taxable assets in England at the time of the Norman conquest.

By the 13th century, the name had acquired various spellings, including Akerley, Ackerly, and Ackerley. These variations likely stemmed from regional dialects and the inconsistent spelling practices of the time.

In the 14th century, the name Ackerley can be found in records from Lancashire and Cheshire, suggesting that the name was particularly prevalent in these regions. For instance, a John de Akerley is mentioned in the Lancashire Inquisitions Post Mortem of 1311.

One notable figure bearing the surname Ackerley was Roger Ackerley, born circa 1555 in Nantwich, Cheshire. He was a prominent merchant and landowner, and his descendants continued to hold significant estates in the area for generations.

Another individual of note was Sir Roger Ackerley, born in 1628 in Wigan, Lancashire. He was a successful businessman and served as the Mayor of Wigan in 1672. His son, also named Roger Ackerley (1662-1734), was a renowned architect and designed several notable buildings in the region.

In the literary world, Joe Randolph Ackerley (1896-1967) was a British writer and editor. He is best known for his memoirs, including "My Father and Myself" and "Hindoo Holiday," which offer insights into his life and experiences.

Finally, the name Ackerley is also associated with the Ackerley Group, a British media and entertainment company founded by Samuel Ackerley in the early 20th century. The company played a significant role in the development of the entertainment industry in the United Kingdom.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ackerley

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Ackerley.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Ackerley was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Ackerley has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Ackerley was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Ackerley, please contact us.

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