Hooley
An anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó hUallacháin referring to someone from County Sligo.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,057 Americans carry the last name Hooley. That puts it at #16,359 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.60 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 166,628 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Hooley surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
2.1K
1 in 166,628
Census rank
#16,359
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.6
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.8K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,761 bearers of the surname Hooley in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.60 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 16359th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Hooley, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.4%) and Black (0.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Hooley
The surname Hooley is believed to have originated in England during the late medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "hol," meaning a hollow or depression in the ground, and the suffix "-ley," which means a clearing or meadow. This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near a hollow or depression in a meadow or clearing.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire from 1327, where a Thomas de Holeye is mentioned. The "de" prefix indicates that the name was likely originally a locational surname, referring to someone from a specific place.
In the 15th century, the surname appears in various records with slightly different spellings, such as Holley, Holey, and Holle. This variation in spelling was common during this time period due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions.
One notable bearer of the Hooley surname was John Hooley, a 16th-century English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Lostwithiel in Cornwall during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
Another person of historical significance was William Hooley, a 17th-century English clergyman and author who wrote several religious texts, including "A Modest Defence of the Solemn League and Covenant" (1644).
In the 18th century, the name appears in various parish records across England, including in the county of Lancashire, where a family of Hooleys resided in the town of Ormskirk.
One of the more famous bearers of the Hooley surname was Sir William Hooley (1780-1854), a British businessman and philanthropist who made his fortune in the coal industry. He was knighted for his contributions to the city of Sheffield and his support of various charitable causes.
Another notable figure was Thomas Hooley (1824-1898), a British engineer and inventor who held several patents for improvements to steam engines and other industrial machinery.
Overall, the surname Hooley has a long and diverse history in England, with bearers hailing from various regions and backgrounds, including politicians, clergymen, industrialists, and inventors.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Hooley
Among Census respondents with the surname Hooley, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.4%) and Black (0.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Hooley bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Hooley surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White95.3%
- Hispanic or Latino2.4%
- Black or African American0.9%
- Two or more races0.7%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Hooley surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #16,359 | #16,359 | 0.0% |
| Count | 1,761 | 1,761 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.60 | 0.60 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Hooley bearers went from 1,761 to 1,761 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #16,359 to #16,359.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Hooley
FAQ
Hooley surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Hooley?
The surname Hooley holds position #16,359 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 2,057 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.60 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Hooley surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Hooley, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.4%) and Black (0.9%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.