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

Battley, 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 Battley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Battley in America

Battley is the 68547th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Battley surname appeared 287 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 Battley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Battley 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 Battley

The surname Battley originates from England, with roots dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "bæt," meaning a boat, and "leah," referring to a meadow or clearing. This suggests that the name may have initially been associated with someone who lived near a meadow or clearing where boats were moored or constructed.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 13th century in various parts of England, including Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire. One of the earliest documented references is found in the Hundred Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1273, where it appears as "Bateley."

During the 14th century, the surname was also recorded in various spellings, such as "Battelay," "Batelay," and "Bateley," reflecting the inconsistencies in spelling and pronunciation common in those times. These variations likely arose from regional dialects and scribal errors.

In the 15th century, the name appears in the records of the Court of Chancery, where a certain John Battley was mentioned in a legal dispute over land ownership in 1462. This indicates that the Battley family had established themselves as landowners by this time.

One notable bearer of the surname was Sir Hugh Battley (c. 1525-1589), a prominent English politician and member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He served as the High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire in 1571.

Another historical figure was William Battley (1644-1707), an English clergyman and author who served as the rector of Ryton in County Durham. He published several works, including a treatise on the Book of Common Prayer.

In the 18th century, the name was associated with the village of Batley in West Yorkshire, which likely derived its name from the same Old English roots as the surname. This connection suggests that the Battley family may have originated from or had ties to this area.

James Battley (1762-1835) was a distinguished English physician and chemist who developed a sedative compound known as "Battley's Solution," which was widely used in medical practice during the 19th century.

Thomas Battley (1809-1891), an English industrialist and entrepreneur, founded the Battley Brothers textile mills in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, which played a significant role in the region's textile industry.

These examples illustrate the historical presence and prominence of the Battley surname across various fields and regions of England over several centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Battley

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

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

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

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