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

Easley, 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 Easley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Easley in America

Easley is the 2212th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Easley surname appeared 16,459 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 6 people would have the surname Easley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Easley 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 Easley

The surname Easley has its origins in England, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "east" and "leah," which collectively refer to a meadow or woodland clearing located to the east. This suggests that the name may have initially been used to identify individuals residing in such areas.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Easley can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, where it appears as "de Estleia." This spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time, as regional dialects and phonetic shifts influenced its written form.

During the 13th century, the name Easley appeared in various historical records, including the Hundred Rolls of Buckinghamshire from 1273, which mentions a William de Estleye. This document serves as a valuable source for tracing the geographical distribution of the name within England.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname Easley. However, it does mention several place names that may have influenced the development of the surname, such as Eastleigh in Hampshire and Eastley in Northamptonshire.

Over the centuries, the Easley surname has been associated with notable individuals in various fields. One such figure was Sir Ralph Easley (c. 1500-1580), a prominent English politician who served as a Member of Parliament and held the position of High Sheriff of Northamptonshire.

Another noteworthy bearer of the name was John Easley (1777-1834), an American politician and lawyer who served as the 12th Governor of Missouri from 1833 to 1834.

In the realm of literature, William Easley (1851-1926), an American author and poet, gained recognition for his works, including "The Trumpet of the West" and "Songs of Old Valor and Victory."

The name Easley has also been associated with places, such as the town of Easley in South Carolina, which was named after Gideon Riley Easley (1788-1848), a local landowner and community leader.

Furthermore, the Easley family has left its mark on history through individuals like Brigadier General Claudius Easley (1904-1987), a highly decorated United States Army officer who served during World War II and received the Distinguished Service Cross for his bravery.

These examples serve to illustrate the rich history and diverse backgrounds associated with the surname Easley, which has endured for centuries and continues to be carried by individuals worldwide.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Easley

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

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

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

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