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

Kegley, 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 Kegley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kegley in America

Kegley is the 9587th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kegley surname appeared 3,391 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 Kegley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kegley 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 Kegley

The surname Kegley has its origins in Germany, where it first emerged around the 12th century. It is derived from the Old German word "Kegelspiel," which translates to "game of bowls" or "skittles." This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with individuals involved in the production or playing of these games.

One of the earliest recorded references to the Kegley name can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae, a collection of medieval records from Saxony, dating back to the 13th century. The name appears as "Kegeleyr," which is believed to be an early variant spelling.

In the 15th century, the Kegley name was documented in the town of Mühlhausen, located in present-day Thuringia, Germany. A notable figure from this period was Johannes Kegley, a master craftsman and bowling alley owner, who lived from 1432 to 1498.

As the Kegley family spread across Europe, variations in spelling emerged, including Kegeley, Kegele, and Kegeler. Some of these variants were influenced by the local dialects and languages of the regions where the family settled.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Kegley name in English records dates back to the late 16th century, when a German immigrant named Hans Kegley arrived in London in 1587. He is believed to have been a master woodcarver and is credited with introducing the game of skittles to England.

In the 17th century, the Kegley family established a presence in the American colonies. Jacob Kegley, born in 1645 in Württemberg, Germany, immigrated to Virginia in 1678 and became one of the first settlers in the Shenandoah Valley region. His descendants played a significant role in the region's development and many of them served in various military conflicts, including the American Revolutionary War.

Another notable figure with the Kegley surname was Johann Kegley, a renowned German sculptor and woodcarver who lived from 1723 to 1798. His intricate works adorned many churches and public buildings throughout southern Germany.

In the 19th century, the Kegley family continued to spread across the United States, with members settling in various states, including Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. One prominent individual from this period was William Kegley, a lawyer and politician from Ohio, who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1853 to 1855.

Throughout history, the Kegley name has been associated with various occupations, including skilled craftsmen, businessmen, artists, and professionals, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of those who have carried this surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kegley

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

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

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

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