Braley
Derived from a place name meaning "clearing or wood of broom," a shrub once used for making brooms.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 4,559 Americans carry the last name Braley. That puts it at #8,423 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.33 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 75,182 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Braley surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
4.6K
1 in 75,182
Census rank
#8,423
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.3
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
3.9K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 3,924 bearers of the surname Braley in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.33 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 8423rd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Braley, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.2%. The next largest groups are Black (2.7%) and Two or More Races (2.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Braley
The surname Braley is of English origin, derived from a place name in the county of Buckinghamshire. It is believed to have originated in the late 12th or early 13th century, with the earliest known spelling recorded as "de Bradelai" in the Pipe Rolls of Buckinghamshire in 1195.
The name is thought to be derived from the Old English words "brad" and "leah," which together mean "broad meadow" or "broad clearing." This suggests that the name may have referred to someone who lived near a broad meadow or clearing in a wooded area.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Hundred Rolls of Buckinghamshire from 1275, which mentions a "Robertus de Bradelay." This document provides valuable insight into the early use and spelling variations of the surname.
During the Middle Ages, the Braley surname appeared in various records and documents across England. For example, in the Pipe Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1279, a "Willelmus de Bradelay" is mentioned, indicating the spread of the name beyond Buckinghamshire.
Notable individuals with the surname Braley include Sir John Braley (c. 1480-1548), a prominent English landowner and Member of Parliament during the reign of Henry VIII. Another notable figure was William Braley (1590-1662), a Puritan minister and one of the founders of the town of Taunton, Massachusetts, in the early American colonies.
In the 17th century, the surname appears in the records of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, with individuals such as Thomas Braley (c. 1620-1686), who settled in Barnstable, Massachusetts, and became a prominent figure in the local community.
During the 18th and 19th centuries, the Braley surname continued to be found across various parts of England and the United States. Notable individuals from this period include John Braley (1745-1818), an American Revolutionary War soldier, and James Braley (1794-1880), a Methodist minister and author from England.
Throughout its history, the Braley surname has maintained its connection to its English roots, with various spelling variations emerging over time, including Bradelay, Bradeley, and Bradly, among others.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Braley
Among Census respondents with the surname Braley, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.2%. The next largest groups are Black (2.7%) and Two or More Races (2.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Braley bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Braley surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White92.2%
- Black or African American2.7%
- Two or more races2.2%
- Hispanic or Latino1.8%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.6%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.5%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Braley surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #8,019 | #8,423 | -5.0% |
| Count | 3,815 | 3,924 | 2.9% |
| Per 100K | 1.41 | 1.33 | -5.7% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Braley bearers went from 3,815 to 3,924 (+2.9% change). The surname moved down 404 positions in the national ranking, going from #8,019 to #8,423.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Braley
FAQ
Braley surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Braley?
The surname Braley holds position #8,423 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 4,559 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 1.33 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Braley surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Braley, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.2%. The next largest groups are Black (2.7%) and Two or More Races (2.2%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.