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

Blakely, 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 Blakely surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Blakely in America

Blakely is the 3077th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Blakely surname appeared 11,669 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Blakely.

We can also compare 2010 data for Blakely 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 Blakely

The surname Blakely is derived from an Old English locational name, referring to someone who hailed from a dark or shaded meadow. It originates from the combination of the Old English words 'blæc' meaning 'black' or 'dark' and 'leah' meaning a meadow or clearing in a forest. The name is thought to have originated in England, likely in the medieval period.

The earliest recorded use of the name Blakely can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appeared as 'Blacolei' or 'Blakelei'. This influential survey, commissioned by William the Conqueror, documented landholders and their properties across much of England and parts of Wales. The name's presence in this record indicates its early establishment in the region.

In the 13th century, the name was also found in various forms such as 'Blakelai', 'Blakeleye', and 'Blakeleia' in various records and charters from counties like Staffordshire, Derbyshire, and Cheshire. These variations reflect the spelling fluidity of the time and the regional differences in pronunciation and documentation.

One notable early figure with this surname was John Blakely, born around 1320 in Derbyshire. He was a prominent landowner and served as a member of the local gentry. Another individual of note was Richard Blakely, born in 1415 in Cheshire, who was a skilled archer and fought in the Hundred Years' War under King Henry V.

During the 16th century, the name emerged in several place names, such as Blakeley in Lancashire and Blakely in Staffordshire. These locations likely derived their names from the surname, reflecting the influence and presence of Blakely families in those areas.

In the 17th century, Thomas Blakely, born in 1620 in Yorkshire, was a renowned scholar and theologian who served as a chaplain to King Charles II. Additionally, William Blakely, born in 1645 in Cheshire, was a successful merchant and banker whose family played a significant role in the local economy.

Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, several notable individuals bore the Blakely surname. These include John Blakely, born in 1760 in Derbyshire, who was a pioneering engineer and inventor, and Elizabeth Blakely, born in 1810 in Lancashire, who was a prominent activist in the women's suffrage movement.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Blakely

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

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

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

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