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

Hendley, 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 Hendley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Hendley in America

Hendley is the 9366th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hendley surname appeared 3,473 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 Hendley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Hendley 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 Hendley

The surname Hendley originated in England during the medieval period, deriving its roots from the Old English words "hende," meaning courteous or civil, and "leah," signifying a meadow or clearing in the woods. This name was likely borne by individuals who resided in a courteous manner within a particular clearing or settlement.

Hendley is believed to have first emerged in the southern counties of England, particularly in areas like Dorset and Somerset, where the earliest recorded instances of this surname can be traced back to the 13th century. The Hundred Rolls of 1273, which served as a census-like record of landowners and their holdings, contain references to individuals with variations of the Hendley name, such as Hendeleia and Hendelegh.

One of the earliest documented bearers of this surname was Roger de Hendelegh, who was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Somerset in 1327. Another notable figure was John Hendley, a wealthy merchant from Dorchester, Dorset, who lived in the late 14th century and was recorded in the town's historical records.

In the 15th century, the Hendley surname appeared in various manorial records and court rolls across southern England. For instance, a Thomas Hendley was listed as a tenant farmer in the manor of Berwick St. John, Wiltshire, in 1476. The name also surfaced in the Hertfordshire County Records of the same era, indicating the gradual spread of this surname beyond its original southern English heartland.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Hendley name gained prominence through several notable individuals. One such figure was Sir Walter Hendley (1555-1611), a distinguished lawyer and Member of Parliament who served as the Recorder of Salisbury and was knighted by King James I in 1603. Another eminent bearer of this surname was Sir John Hendley (1599-1662), a wealthy landowner and Member of Parliament for Wiltshire, who played a significant role in the English Civil War as a supporter of the Parliamentarian cause.

In the 18th century, Reverend William Hendley (1691-1767) gained recognition as a prominent clergyman and author, serving as the Rector of Rendlesham in Suffolk and publishing several theological works. Meanwhile, John Hendley (1770-1855), a renowned horticulturist and nurseryman from Bedfordshire, made significant contributions to the development of new plant varieties and the cultivation of exotic species.

The Hendley surname has also been associated with notable figures in more recent times, such as Sir Thomas Holden Hendley (1847-1917), a distinguished British administrator and diplomat who served as the Lieutenant-Governor of Punjab and later as the Governor of Mauritius. Additionally, James Hendley (1786-1859), a successful merchant and philanthropist from Liverpool, is remembered for his significant charitable contributions to educational institutions in the city.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Hendley

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

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

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

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