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

Headley, 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 Headley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Headley in America

Headley is the 3830th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Headley surname appeared 9,250 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Headley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Headley 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 Headley

The surname Headley has its origins in England, tracing back to the medieval period. It is a locational name derived from the place name Headley, which itself comes from the Old English words "hēafod" meaning "head" and "lēah" meaning "clearing" or "meadow." This suggests that the name may have originated from a settlement located at the head of a clearing or meadow.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Hedelee" and "Hethlei." This renowned survey, commissioned by William the Conqueror, documented the landowners and properties across much of England at the time.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms such as "Hedlegh" and "Hedleye." During this period, several individuals bearing the name were mentioned in historical records. Among them was Robert de Hedleye, who was listed as a witness in a deed from the county of Hampshire in 1260.

Another notable figure was Sir Thomas Headley, who lived in the 15th century and served as a Member of Parliament for the county of Kent in 1472. He held significant landholdings and was well-regarded in his community.

In the 16th century, the name was further recorded as "Hedley" and "Headley." One prominent individual was Richard Headley, a wealthy merchant from London who was born around 1530 and became a member of the prestigious Worshipful Company of Mercers.

The 17th century saw the rise of Sir John Headley, who was born in 1619 and served as a Member of Parliament for the borough of Grantham in Lincolnshire. He was a staunch Royalist during the English Civil War and played an important role in supporting King Charles I.

In the 18th century, the name continued to be associated with notable figures, including Sir Henry Hedley, a successful businessman and landowner who was born in 1720 and held considerable influence in the county of Kent.

Throughout its history, the surname Headley has been linked to various place names across England, including Headley in Hampshire, Surrey, and Buckinghamshire, as well as other locations with similar names derived from the same Old English roots.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Headley

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

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

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

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