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

Boley, 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 Boley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Boley in America

Boley is the 6755th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Boley surname appeared 4,990 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 Boley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Boley 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 Boley

The surname Boley originates from France and is believed to have derived from the French word "bouleau," meaning birch tree. The name traces its roots back to the Middle Ages, around the 12th century, when it was common practice for individuals to adopt surnames based on their occupation, physical characteristics, or geographical location.

Boley was initially most prevalent in the northern regions of France, particularly in areas where birch trees were abundant. It is possible that the earliest bearers of this surname were either involved in the cultivation or trade of birch wood or resided near groves of birch trees.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Boley can be found in the Cartulaire de Sainte-Croix d'Orléans, a medieval cartulary (a collection of charters and legal documents) dated to the 12th century. This document mentions a certain "Robertus Boleius" in the year 1173, indicating the existence of the surname during that time period.

In the 13th century, the name Boley appeared in various forms, such as "Boulay," "Boulai," and "Bouley," reflecting the regional variations in spelling and pronunciation. For instance, the Cartulaire de l'Abbaye de Saint-Père de Chartres, dating back to 1240, records a "Guillelmus Boulay" among its entries.

Throughout the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the surname Boley. One such figure was Jacques Boley (1538-1612), a French jurist and legal scholar who served as a counselor in the Parliament of Paris. Another prominent bearer of the name was Jean Boley (1620-1692), a French philosopher and theologian who authored several works on ethics and moral philosophy.

In the realm of literature, the name Boley is associated with François Boley (1711-1785), a French poet and playwright who gained recognition for his satirical works and comedic plays.

Across the English Channel, the name Boley also found its way into British history. One notable example is William Boley (1749-1829), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for the borough of Clackmannan from 1796 to 1806.

While the surname Boley has its origins in France, it has since spread to various parts of the world, carried by individuals who migrated or descended from French ancestors. The name continues to hold a rich historical legacy, reflecting its ties to the natural world and the diverse experiences of those who have borne it over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Boley

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

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

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

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