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

Elerby, 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 Elerby surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Elerby in America

Elerby is the 139228th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Elerby surname appeared 120 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 Elerby.

The history of the last name Elerby

The surname Elerby is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated as a locational name, derived from a place called Ellerby, which was an old English settlement located in the North Riding of Yorkshire.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Elerby can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land and property commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry refers to a landowner named Ailric de Elrebi, which is considered to be an early variant spelling of the modern surname.

The name Elerby is thought to have been derived from the Old English words "ælor" meaning "alder tree" and "by" meaning "farmstead" or "settlement." This suggests that the original place name Ellerby likely referred to a settlement near or surrounded by alder trees.

In the 13th century, a notable figure bearing the surname Elerby was Robert de Elerby, who served as a canon of York Minster and was appointed as the Bishop of Durham in 1285. He held this position until his death in 1310.

Another historical figure was William Elerby, a merchant and landowner from Yorkshire who lived during the 15th century. Records indicate that he owned substantial property in the village of Elerby and surrounding areas.

During the English Civil War in the 17th century, a Royalist soldier named John Elerby fought for King Charles I. He was captured by Parliamentarian forces at the Battle of Marston Moor in 1644 and subsequently imprisoned.

In the 18th century, a renowned botanist named Thomas Elerby (1714-1789) made significant contributions to the study of plant life in Yorkshire. He authored several treatises on the local flora and is credited with discovering several new species of wildflowers.

Another notable individual was Elizabeth Elerby (1832-1902), a prominent philanthropist and social reformer from Yorkshire. She established several charitable organizations and schools in the region, dedicating her life to improving the lives of the underprivileged.

Throughout its history, the surname Elerby has undergone various spelling variations, such as Ellerby, Ellerbee, and Ellerbie, reflecting the regional dialects and scribal practices of the time. However, the core meaning and origins of the name remain firmly rooted in the ancient settlement of Ellerby in Yorkshire.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Elerby

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

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 Elerby 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.

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

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

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