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

Jolley, 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 Jolley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Jolley in America

Jolley is the 3770th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Jolley surname appeared 9,392 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 Jolley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Jolley 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 Jolley

The surname Jolley is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is likely derived from the Old French personal name "Jollif," which means "cheerful" or "merry." This name was often adopted as a surname by the descendants of those who bore it as a nickname or personal descriptor.

The earliest recorded instances of the Jolley surname can be traced back to the 13th century in various regions of England, including Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire. In some instances, the name appears in historical records with alternative spellings, such as "Jollye" or "Jolly."

One notable early reference to the Jolley name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which recorded individuals for tax purposes. This document mentions a "William Jolie" residing in Cambridgeshire. Additionally, the Subsidy Rolls of 1327 list a "Thomas Joly" in Suffolk.

The Jolley surname was also associated with various locations in England, particularly in areas where the name was prevalent. For example, the village of Jolley in Cheshire may have derived its name from the surname, although the exact connection is unclear.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Jolley surname. One of the earliest recorded was John Jolley (c. 1555-1622), an English Puritan minister who served as the rector of Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk.

Another prominent figure was Thomas Jolley (1629-1703), an English Quaker who emigrated to New Jersey in the late 17th century and became a prominent landowner and businessman in the colony.

In the 18th century, Benjamin Jolley (1732-1809) was an English engraver and portrait painter who worked in London and gained recognition for his skills in mezzotint engraving.

During the Victorian era, Philip Gough Jolley (1809-1868) was a notable English architect who designed several churches and public buildings in various parts of the country.

Lastly, a more recent figure was Sir William Jolley (1876-1959), a British politician and businessman who served as the Lord Mayor of London from 1951 to 1952.

While the Jolley surname has remained relatively uncommon compared to some other English surnames, it has a rich history and can be traced back through various regions of England, with connections to notable individuals throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Jolley

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

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

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

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