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

Cawley, 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 Cawley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cawley in America

Cawley is the 6268th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cawley surname appeared 5,451 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 Cawley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Cawley 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 Cawley

The surname Cawley has its origins in England, emerging during the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words 'calu' and 'leah,' which together translate to 'bare or bald clearing.' This suggests that the name was initially associated with individuals who lived near a treeless or sparsely vegetated area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as 'Calewei.' This entry pertains to a location in Staffordshire, which lends credence to the theory that the surname originated from a place name.

In the 13th century, records mention a Robert de Caleweye, who lived in Cheshire during the reign of King Henry III. This spelling variation further reinforces the name's connection to a geographical location.

During the 14th century, the surname began to take on its more modern form, with references to individuals such as William Cawley, who resided in Derbyshire in 1332.

Notable historical figures bearing the Cawley surname include Sir William Cawley (1602-1677), a prominent English merchant and politician who served as the Lord Mayor of London from 1665 to 1666. Another prominent individual was Reverend William Cawley (1778-1858), an English clergyman and author who published works on theology and church history.

In the 19th century, John Cawley (1822-1898) gained recognition as a British architect responsible for designing several notable buildings in Liverpool, including the Church of St. Margaret of Antioch.

Other notable individuals with the Cawley surname include James Cawley (1914-2005), an American television producer and director known for his work on the popular sitcom "The Honeymooners," and Daniel Cawley (1780-1859), an Irish banker and entrepreneur who co-founded the Provincial Bank of Ireland.

While the name may have originated from a specific geographical location in England, it has since spread across various regions and cultures, with individuals bearing the Cawley surname making significant contributions in diverse fields throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cawley

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

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

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

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