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

Barley, 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 Barley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Barley in America

Barley is the 7054th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Barley surname appeared 4,744 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Barley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Barley 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 Barley

The surname Barley is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "bærlīc," which means "a barley field." The name first emerged in the 12th century, primarily in the counties of Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, and Yorkshire, where barley was a significant crop.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, which mentions a person named Ralph de Berleye. The Domesday Book of 1086 also contains references to places like "Bærlea" and "Berlai," which may have influenced the development of the surname.

The Barley surname is closely associated with several places in England, including Barley in Hertfordshire, Barley in Derbyshire, and Barley in Yorkshire. These place names likely contributed to the spread and adoption of the surname in those regions.

Notable individuals with the surname Barley throughout history include:

1. Sir Alexander Barley (1565-1638), an English merchant and Member of Parliament for the City of London in 1624.
2. William Barley (1603-1677), an English nonconformist minister and religious writer who was ejected from his living during the English Restoration.
3. John Barley (1675-1753), an English mathematician and writer, known for his work on algebra and navigation.
4. Thomas Barley (1728-1789), an English painter and engraver, best known for his portraits and historical scenes.
5. Harriet Barley (1818-1892), an English author and novelist who wrote under the pen name "Holme Lee."

The Barley surname has a rich history rooted in the agricultural traditions of England, particularly in the northern counties where barley was a prominent crop. The name's origins can be traced back to the Old English language, and it has been associated with various places and notable individuals throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Barley

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

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 Barley 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 Barley 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 Barley was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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