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

Exley, 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 Exley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Exley in America

Exley is the 19896th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Exley surname appeared 1,350 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 Exley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Exley 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 Exley

The surname Exley is an English locational name derived from the place name Exley, which is found in West Yorkshire. The name is believed to originate from the Old English words "ex" meaning "ox" and "leah" meaning "a meadow or clearing," suggesting that it referred to a clearing or meadow where oxen grazed.

The earliest known record of the name Exley dates back to the 13th century, with a reference to a person named Adam de Exeley in the Yorkshire Feet of Fines from 1297. The name was also recorded in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Returns of 1379, indicating its widespread use in the region during medieval times.

One of the earliest documented individuals with the surname Exley was John Exley, a yeoman farmer from Sowerby, West Yorkshire, who was born in 1520 and died in 1598. His descendants continued to live in the area for several generations.

In the 16th century, the name appeared in various spellings, such as Exeley, Exelie, and Exelay, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling at the time. One notable bearer of the name was Richard Exley, a merchant from Halifax, West Yorkshire, who was born in 1564 and died in 1631.

During the 17th century, the Exley family continued to be prominent in West Yorkshire, with several members holding positions of influence in local communities. For instance, Thomas Exley (1621-1689) served as a churchwarden in Sowerby, while his son, also named Thomas Exley (1658-1723), was a successful merchant and landowner.

As the name spread beyond its Yorkshire origins, it was documented in various parts of England. In the 18th century, a notable bearer of the name was John Exley (1721-1798), a prominent businessman and philanthropist from Wigan, Lancashire, who founded several schools and charitable institutions in the area.

Throughout the 19th century, the Exley surname continued to be found across England, with several individuals achieving notable positions. One such figure was Sir Thomas Craven Exley (1835-1912), a successful industrialist and politician from Bradford, West Yorkshire, who served as a Member of Parliament and was knighted for his contributions to public life.

While the surname Exley has its roots in West Yorkshire, it has since spread to various parts of the world, including North America, Australia, and New Zealand, as a result of migration and immigration. However, its origins can be traced back to the medieval period in Yorkshire, reflecting the rich history and linguistic influences that have shaped English surnames.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Exley

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

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

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

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