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

Bulley, 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 Bulley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bulley in America

Bulley is the 57234th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bulley surname appeared 356 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 Bulley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bulley 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 Bulley

The surname Bulley is believed to have originated in England, with its roots tracing back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old English word "bolle," which means "rounded hill" or "knoll." This suggests that the name was initially given to someone who lived near or on a rounded hilltop.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book, compiled in 1086 under the orders of William the Conqueror. The entry mentions a landowner named Radulfus de Bulleya, indicating the presence of the surname in the form of a place name during the 11th century.

The name Bulley has also been linked to various place names across England, such as Bulley in Gloucestershire and Bulley Priory in Essex. These locations may have been named after individuals bearing the surname or vice versa, reflecting the close connection between surnames and geographical features.

In the 13th century, records show a William de Bulley who held lands in Staffordshire. This historic figure serves as an early example of the surname's prominence in the region.

Over the centuries, the name has undergone various spelling variations, including Bulley, Bulleigh, Bullye, and Bullaye, reflecting the fluid nature of surname spellings during those times.

Notable individuals with the surname Bulley include:

1. William Bulley (c. 1520 – c. 1590), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Steyning during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

2. John Bulley (1654 – 1726), an English clergyman and author known for his writings on theology and philosophy.

3. Charles Bulley (1819 – 1879), a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including St. Saviour's Church in Pimlico.

4. Charles Bulley (1865 – 1934), an English cricketer who played for Worcestershire County Cricket Club in the late 19th century.

5. Frederick Bulley (1890 – 1968), a British soldier and recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest military decoration awarded for valor in the face of the enemy during World War I.

While the surname Bulley may not be among the most common in modern times, its rich history and connections to various places and notable figures across England serve as a testament to its enduring presence throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bulley

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!