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

Fegley, 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 Fegley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fegley in America

Fegley is the 17992nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fegley surname appeared 1,552 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Fegley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Fegley 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 Fegley

The surname Fegley originates from Germany, tracing its roots back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the old German word "Fegler," which referred to a cleaner or a sweeper. The name was likely adopted as an occupational surname for individuals who worked as chimney sweeps or cleaners during that era.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Fegley surname can be found in the historical records of the city of Ulm, located in the southern German state of Baden-Württemberg. These records date back to the late 1500s and mention several individuals bearing the name Fegley or variations such as Fegler or Fegelein.

As the name spread throughout different regions of Germany, variations in spelling and pronunciation emerged. For instance, in some areas, the name was spelled as "Feigley" or "Fegele," reflecting local dialects and language adaptations.

While no significant historical figures with the surname Fegley have been widely documented, there are a few notable individuals worth mentioning. Johann Fegley, born in 1687 in the town of Mainz, was a respected craftsman and woodworker known for his intricate carvings and furniture designs. His works can still be found in several museums and private collections in Germany.

Another individual of note is Wilhelm Fegley, born in 1812 in the city of Stuttgart. He was a prominent educator and author who published several books on teaching methods and educational reforms during the 19th century.

In the early 1800s, some Fegley families migrated to the United States, particularly to the state of Pennsylvania. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name in America can be found in the historical records of Berks County, Pennsylvania, where a family by the name of Fegley settled in the early 1830s.

Over time, the Fegley surname has spread across various regions of the United States, with concentrations found in states such as Pennsylvania, Ohio, and California. While the name may not have gained widespread recognition, it has maintained a presence throughout the country's history, with individuals contributing to various fields and professions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fegley

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

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

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

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