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

Billey, 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 Billey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Billey in America

Billey is the 53538th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Billey surname appeared 386 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 Billey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Billey 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 Billey

The surname BILLEY is of English origin, derived from the Old English words "bilie" and "leah," meaning "hill by the lea or meadow." It is believed to have originated in the 12th century in the county of Gloucestershire, England.

During the Middle Ages, the name was often spelled as "Bileye" or "Bilegh." It is thought that some of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of landowners commissioned by William the Conqueror.

One notable historical figure bearing the surname BILLEY was Sir John Billey, a wealthy merchant and landowner who lived in the 14th century. He was known for his involvement in the wool trade and his philanthropic efforts, including the establishment of a hospital in Bristol.

In the 16th century, a family by the name of BILLEY was recorded as residing in the village of Billey, located in the county of Warwickshire. This village is believed to have derived its name from the BILLEY family, suggesting their long-standing presence in the area.

Another significant individual with the surname BILLEY was William Billey, who was born in 1625 and served as a member of the British Parliament during the reign of Charles II. He was a staunch supporter of the monarchy and played a crucial role in the restoration of the Stuart dynasty.

In the late 18th century, a renowned poet and writer named Mary Billey gained recognition for her collection of romantic poems and her involvement in literary circles. She was born in 1765 and lived until 1842, leaving a lasting impact on the literary landscape of her time.

Throughout the 19th century, the BILLEY surname began to spread across various regions of England, with families settling in areas such as Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Lincolnshire. Some notable individuals from this period include Robert Billey, a successful businessman and philanthropist born in 1820, and Elizabeth Billey, a pioneering educator who established a school for underprivileged children in London in 1875.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Billey

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

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

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

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