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

Harlee, 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 Harlee surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Harlee in America

Harlee is the 73464th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Harlee surname appeared 264 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 Harlee.

We can also compare 2010 data for Harlee 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 Harlee

The surname Harlee is of English origin, emerging from the county of Yorkshire during the medieval period. Its roots can be traced back to the Old English words "hara" and "leah," which together translate to "meadow of hares." This suggests that the name was initially used to describe someone who lived near a meadow frequented by hares or rabbits.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Harlee can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Haraleh." This entry refers to a landowner named Aelfric de Haraleh, who held estates in Yorkshire at the time of the Norman Conquest.

Over the centuries, the name underwent various spelling variations, such as Harlay, Harlee, and Harlie. These variations were common due to the inconsistent nature of medieval record-keeping and regional dialects.

Notably, the Harlee family played a significant role in the history of Yorkshire. Sir John Harlee (1550-1624) was a prominent landowner and member of Parliament, known for his involvement in local government affairs. Another notable figure was William Harlee (1680-1754), a successful merchant and philanthropist who funded the construction of several schools and almshouses in the region.

Beyond Yorkshire, the name Harlee also gained recognition in other parts of England. One of the earliest recorded examples is that of Thomas Harlee (c. 1450-1518), a renowned scholar and clergyman who served as the Bishop of Norwich.

In the realm of literature, the name Harlee is associated with the English poet and playwright William Harlee (1564-1592). Although his works are largely obscure today, he was a contemporary of William Shakespeare and contributed to the vibrant literary scene of the Elizabethan era.

Another prominent figure bearing the surname Harlee was Sir Edward Harlee (1624-1700), a celebrated military leader who served as a general during the English Civil War. He played a crucial role in several battles and was knighted for his bravery and loyalty to the Royalist cause.

Throughout its history, the surname Harlee has maintained a strong connection to its English roots, with many bearers of the name tracing their ancestry back to the county of Yorkshire and its surroundings. While not as widespread as some other English surnames, it has left an indelible mark on the annals of history, particularly in the realms of landholding, politics, religion, and military service.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Harlee

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

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

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

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