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

Eley, 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 Eley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Eley in America

Eley is the 6921st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Eley surname appeared 4,848 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 Eley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Eley 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 Eley

The surname Eley originates from England and can be traced back to the 11th century. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from the Old English words "el" meaning "eel" and "ey" meaning "island" or "river meadow." This suggests that the name likely originated in areas where eels were abundant, such as marshlands or near bodies of water.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Eleie" and "Eleye." This important historical record provides evidence of the name's existence during the Norman Conquest of England.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, including "Elegh," "Eleye," and "Eley," reflecting regional variations in spelling and pronunciation. One notable example is John de Eley, a landowner mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Yorkshire in 1285.

During the 14th century, the Eley family established roots in Norfolk, England, where several members were recorded in local records and tax rolls. For instance, William Eley was noted as a resident of Norwich in 1379.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Sir John Eley, a prominent English knight who fought alongside King Edward III in the Hundred Years' War against France. He was born around 1320 and participated in the Battle of Crécy in 1346.

In the 16th century, the Eley family gained prominence in the county of Buckinghamshire. Thomas Eley, born in 1522, was a renowned scholar and author who wrote extensively on religious matters.

Another notable figure was Sir Ralph Eley, born in 1573, who served as a member of Parliament and played a significant role in the English Civil War, supporting the Parliamentarian cause against King Charles I.

During the 17th century, the Eley name spread to various parts of England, with families settling in Lincolnshire, Warwickshire, and Somerset. One noteworthy individual was Sir William Eley, born in 1637, who was a successful merchant and philanthropist in London.

The 18th century saw the rise of William Eley, born in 1766, a renowned English manufacturer and inventor. He established the Eley Cartridge Company, which produced innovative ammunition and firearms components, contributing significantly to the development of modern weaponry.

Throughout history, the Eley surname has been associated with various professions, including landowners, scholars, military figures, and industrialists. While the name's origins can be traced to specific regions in England, it has since spread globally, with bearers of the Eley name found in numerous countries around the world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Eley

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

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

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Eley, 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!