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

Ellery, 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 Ellery surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ellery in America

Ellery is the 30165th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ellery surname appeared 777 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 Ellery.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ellery 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 Ellery

The surname Ellery is believed to have originated in England, tracing its roots back to the Anglo-Saxon era. It is derived from the Old English words "el," meaning "eel," and "ry," meaning "a stream or waterway." This suggests that the name may have been associated with individuals who lived near a waterway where eels were found.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ellery can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive record of landowners and properties in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appeared as "Elredi" and "Elredi," suggesting variations in spelling during that time.

During the Middle Ages, the name was often spelled as "Ellerye" or "Ellerie," reflecting the influence of Norman French on the English language after the Norman Conquest in 1066. Records from this period show that the Ellery family held lands in various parts of England, including Lincolnshire and Yorkshire.

In the 16th century, a notable figure bearing the name Ellery was William Ellery (1505-1572), who served as a Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another prominent individual was Thomas Ellery (1648-1718), a merchant and landowner in the city of Bristol.

Moving into the 17th century, William Ellery (1727-1820) was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, representing the state of Rhode Island. He was a successful merchant and politician who played a significant role in the American Revolution.

In the literary world, John Ellery (1753-1826) was an English poet and critic who gained recognition for his works, which included "Specimens of the Classic Poets" and "Poetical Essays on the Truths of Christianity."

Another notable figure was Charles Ellery (1792-1862), an English artist and engraver who specialized in landscape paintings and etchings. His works were widely admired and are now part of several prestigious art collections.

Throughout its history, the surname Ellery has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including politicians, merchants, artists, and writers. While the exact origin and meaning of the name may have evolved over time, it remains a distinctly English surname with a rich heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ellery

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

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

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

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