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

Girley, 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 Girley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Girley in America

Girley is the 92719th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Girley surname appeared 198 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 Girley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Girley 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 Girley

The surname Girley is of English origin, with its roots tracing back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated as a locational name, derived from a place name that no longer exists or has changed significantly over time.

One possible theory suggests that the name Girley may have come from a combination of the Old English words "gyr" or "gir," meaning "a strip of land," and "leah," meaning "a clearing or meadow." This would indicate that the name likely referred to an individual who resided near a specific strip of land or clearing.

Another theory proposes that Girley may have evolved from the Old French word "girouette," which means "weathervane." This could imply that the name was initially given as a nickname or occupational name to someone who worked as a maker or installer of weathervanes.

The earliest known record of the surname Girley dates back to the late 13th century, when a certain Roger Girley was mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273. This document was a census-like survey conducted during the reign of King Edward I, providing valuable insight into the names and locations of individuals at that time.

During the 14th century, the name appeared in various legal and ecclesiastical records, such as the Subsidy Rolls of Somerset in 1327, where a William Girley was listed as a taxpayer. Another notable mention was in the Pipe Rolls of Nottinghamshire in 1379, which referenced a John Girley.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Girley. One such figure was Sir Thomas Girley (1497-1562), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Westbury during the reign of Queen Mary I. Another individual of note was Richard Girley (1609-1694), a prominent merchant and landowner in the county of Gloucestershire.

In the 18th century, the name Girley appeared in various parish records across England. For example, the baptismal record of Elizabeth Girley in St. Mary's Church, Devizes, Wiltshire, was recorded in 1726. Additionally, the marriage of John Girley and Mary Wilkinson was documented in the parish records of St. Martin's Church, Birmingham, in 1789.

Moving into the 19th century, the name Girley continued to be present in various historical records. One notable individual was William Girley (1813-1887), a renowned architect and surveyor who contributed significantly to the development of urban infrastructure in London during the Victorian era.

While the surname Girley may not be among the most common in modern times, its rich history and potential origins provide valuable insights into the naming practices and societal dynamics of bygone eras in England.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Girley

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

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

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

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