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

Hobley, 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 Hobley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Hobley in America

Hobley is the 55121st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hobley surname appeared 373 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 Hobley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Hobley 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 Hobley

The surname Hobley originated in England during the late medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "hob," meaning a flat-topped hill or mound, and "ley," meaning a meadow or clearing. This suggests that the name was likely borne by someone who lived near a distinctive hill or mound in a meadow or clearing.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 13th century in various county records and tax rolls from the English counties of Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Lincolnshire. The name was often spelled in various ways, such as Hobbeley, Hobley, and Hobly, reflecting the variations in local dialects and scribal practices.

One of the earliest known records of the name is found in the Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire from 1327, which mention a Robert de Hobbeley. Another early reference is in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from 1379, which list a John Hobley.

Over the centuries, the Hobley name has been associated with several notable individuals. One such person was William Hobley (c. 1600-1679), an English clergyman who served as the Rector of Ickham in Kent from 1640 until his death.

Another prominent figure was Charles Hobley (1796-1879), a English lawyer and legal writer who published several works on the laws of bankruptcy and conveyancing.

In the realm of exploration and colonialism, John Ainsworth Hobley (1858-1923) was a British colonial administrator who served as the Commissioner of the East Africa Protectorate (present-day Kenya) from 1899 to 1912.

In the field of medicine, Charles Leonard Hobley (1887-1975) was a British physician and surgeon who made significant contributions to the treatment of fractures and orthopedic surgery.

Lastly, Clifford Hobley (1918-2008) was a British actor and writer who appeared in various television shows and films throughout his career, including roles in popular series like "Dad's Army" and "Fawlty Towers."

These examples illustrate the diverse backgrounds and accomplishments of individuals who have borne the Hobley surname throughout history, reflecting its enduring presence in various regions of England and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Hobley

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

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

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

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