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

Chesley, 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 Chesley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Chesley in America

Chesley is the 10871st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Chesley surname appeared 2,931 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Chesley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Chesley 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 Chesley

The surname Chesley originated in England, with roots dating back to the late 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "cese" meaning cheese, and "leah" meaning a meadow or clearing, suggesting a connection to a cheese-making area or dairy farm. The earliest known spelling variation was "Cheselai," found in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire in 1199.

Chesley was initially concentrated in the West Midlands region of England, particularly in Staffordshire and Worcestershire. One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Robert de Cheselay, mentioned in the Feet of Fines for Staffordshire in 1249. The Chesley family is also believed to have held land in the area, as evidenced by the mention of a "Richard de Cheselay" in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1272.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, including "Cheseley," "Chesseley," and "Chesselay," reflecting the inconsistent spelling practices of the time. The Hundred Rolls of 1275 for Worcestershire recorded a "Willelmus de Cheselay," indicating the presence of the family in that county.

One of the earliest notable figures with the Chesley surname was Sir Robert Chesley, a member of the English gentry who lived in the late 14th century. He was a landowner and served as a knight of the shire for Staffordshire in the Parliament of 1388.

In the 16th century, the Chesley family continued to be prominent in Staffordshire. John Chesley, born around 1520, was a wealthy merchant and landowner in the town of Uttoxeter. His son, Richard Chesley (1545-1621), was a successful lawyer and served as a Justice of the Peace for Staffordshire.

Another noteworthy individual was Sir Thomas Chesley (1570-1645), a Member of Parliament for Staffordshire in the early 17th century. He was a staunch Royalist during the English Civil War and played a role in the defense of Stafford Castle against the Parliamentarian forces.

Over time, the Chesley surname spread to other parts of England, and variations such as "Cheslin," "Chesslin," and "Cheslyn" emerged. The name also made its way to Ireland and Scotland, where it is sometimes rendered as "Chisholm" or "Chisholme."

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Chesley

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

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

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

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