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

Etherly, 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 Etherly surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Etherly in America

Etherly is the 106570th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Etherly surname appeared 167 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 Etherly.

We can also compare 2010 data for Etherly 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 Etherly

The surname Etherly is of Anglo-Saxon origin, tracing its roots back to the ancient region of Northumbria in England during the 7th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "ēaðe" meaning "easy" and "leah" meaning "meadow" or "clearing in a forest." Thus, the name likely referred to a person or a place situated in a peaceful or easily accessible meadow.

One of the earliest known references to this surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which recorded land ownership in England after the Norman Conquest. The name appeared as "Ederlea," a variant spelling of the modern Etherly.

Throughout the Middle Ages, the name underwent various spelling variations due to inconsistent record-keeping practices and regional dialects. Some of these early spellings include Ederleia, Ederleigh, and Etherley.

One of the first recorded bearers of the name was Sir John Etherley, a Norman knight who fought alongside William the Conqueror during the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Sir John was granted lands in the county of Northumberland as a reward for his service.

Another notable figure was Robert Etherly, a wealthy merchant who lived in the city of York during the 13th century. Records from the time mention his involvement in the lucrative wool trade and his philanthropic efforts in supporting local churches and monasteries.

In the 14th century, the name Etherly can be found in various manorial records and tax rolls from the northern counties of England, indicating the family's presence in the region.

During the 16th century, a branch of the Etherly family settled in the village of Etherley, near the town of Bishop Auckland in County Durham. It is believed that the village derived its name from this family, further solidifying their connection to the area.

Throughout the centuries, the Etherly surname has been associated with several notable individuals, including:

1. Sir Thomas Etherly (1560-1628), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament during the reign of King James I.

2. Elizabeth Etherly (1670-1745), a renowned herbalist and midwife who practiced in the county of Northumberland. Her knowledge of medicinal plants and remedies was highly sought after in her time.

3. John Etherly (1712-1783), a celebrated architect and stonemason who designed and constructed several churches and country estates in the north of England, including the magnificent Etherly Hall.

4. William Etherly (1820-1895), a prominent industrialist and entrepreneur who founded the Etherly Steel Company in the city of Sheffield, contributing significantly to the region's industrial growth during the 19th century.

5. Mary Etherly (1875-1952), a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights. She played a vital role in establishing one of the first girls' schools in the county of Durham and campaigned tirelessly for equal educational opportunities for women.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Etherly

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

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

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

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