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

Freetly, 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 Freetly surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Freetly in America

Freetly is the 159712th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Freetly surname appeared 101 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 Freetly.

The history of the last name Freetly

The surname FREETLY has its origins in England, dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "fre" meaning "free" and "leah" meaning "meadow" or "clearing." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived in a free or unenclosed meadow area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1275, which mentions a John Freteley. This indicates that the name was present in the West Midlands region during the medieval period, although variations in spelling were common at the time.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various records across different counties, including the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire in 1332, which listed a William Fretheleye. This demonstrates the spread of the name beyond its presumed area of origin.

The Freetly family can trace their lineage back to the village of Freetley in Lincolnshire, which likely took its name from the same Old English roots as the surname. Records from the 16th century mention several inhabitants of the village bearing the Freetly surname.

One notable individual with this surname was John Freetly, a merchant and landowner who lived in London during the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He was involved in trade with the Netherlands and owned properties in various parts of the city.

Another prominent figure was Sir William Freetly (1602-1678), a member of Parliament and a supporter of the Parliamentarian cause during the English Civil War. He served as a colonel in the Parliamentary army and played a role in the siege of Colchester in 1648.

In the 18th century, Thomas Freetly (1712-1790) was a respected scholar and clergyman who served as the headmaster of Eton College from 1761 to 1786. He was known for his contributions to the study of classical literature and his efforts to reform the curriculum at the prestigious school.

During the 19th century, the Freetly surname gained recognition through the work of artist and illustrator Emily Freetly (1838-1912). She was particularly renowned for her detailed botanical illustrations and her collaborations with renowned naturalists of the time.

Another notable bearer of the name was Sir Arthur Freetly (1867-1941), a distinguished military officer who served in the British Army during the Second Boer War and World War I. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his bravery in action.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Freetly

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

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 Freetly 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.

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

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

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