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

Greeley, 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 Greeley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Greeley in America

Greeley is the 7796th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Greeley surname appeared 4,246 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 Greeley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Greeley 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 Greeley

The surname Greeley originates from England and dates back to the medieval era. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "grēne," meaning "green," and the suffix "-leah," meaning "a clearing in a forest or wood." The name was likely given to someone who lived near a green or grassy area within a wooded region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Greeley can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Grenelei." This document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, was a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England.

During the 13th century, variations of the name such as "Greneley" and "Grenele" were documented in various counties across England, including Staffordshire, Oxfordshire, and Wiltshire. These spellings were likely influenced by local dialects and pronunciation variations.

In the 16th century, the surname was often associated with place names like Greenley or Greenleigh, which further reinforced its connection to green or grassy areas. One notable figure from this period was Sir Ralph Greenvill (1521-1592), an English naval commander and explorer who played a significant role in the early colonization efforts in the New World.

In the 17th century, the spelling "Greeley" became more prevalent, particularly in the northern regions of England. One prominent individual with this surname was Sir John Greeley (1607-1650), an English politician and military officer who served as a member of Parliament during the English Civil War.

During the 18th century, the Greeley surname spread across the British Empire, with individuals bearing this name settling in various colonies, including the American colonies. One notable figure from this era was Horace Greeley (1811-1872), an influential American newspaper editor, publisher, and politician who founded the New-York Tribune and ran for the presidency in 1872.

Other notable individuals with the surname Greeley include:

1. Andrew Greeley (1928-2013), an American Roman Catholic priest, sociologist, and author of numerous novels and non-fiction works.
2. Adolphus Washington Greeley (1844-1935), an American military officer who served in the Civil War and later became the Chief Signal Officer of the United States Army.
3. Evarts Bouton Greeley (1808-1849), an American explorer and cartographer who led several expeditions in the American West and mapped the Oregon Trail.
4. Horace Greeley Hjalmarson (1896-1983), an American politician who served as a U.S. Representative from Minnesota and later as the state's governor.

The surname Greeley has a rich history dating back to medieval England, with its origins rooted in the Old English language and reflecting the geographic features of the areas where it first emerged.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Greeley

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

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

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

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