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

Koley, 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 Koley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Koley in America

Koley is the 128249th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Koley surname appeared 133 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 Koley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Koley 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 Koley

The surname KOLEY is believed to have originated in the Bengal region of the Indian subcontinent, with roots dating back to the 16th century. It is derived from the Bengali word "কলা" (kola), which means "banana plant" or "banana tree." This connection suggests that the name may have initially been associated with individuals involved in the cultivation or trading of bananas.

Early records indicate that the KOLEY surname was prevalent among communities in the eastern regions of Bengal, now divided between modern-day Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal. The name can be found in several historical documents and manuscripts from that era, including local land records and administrative registers.

One of the earliest documented references to the KOLEY name can be traced back to a land grant inscription from the 16th century, which mentions a landowner named Ramkrishna KOLEY. Another notable individual was Gopinath KOLEY, a renowned Bengali poet and writer who lived between 1766 and 1833.

In the 18th century, a prominent figure named Ramlochan KOLEY gained recognition as a scholar and educator. He established a renowned educational institution in Kolkata, which was instrumental in promoting Bengali literature and culture.

During the 19th century, the KOLEY surname gained further prominence with individuals like Ishwar Chandra KOLEY (1812-1889), a renowned Bengali playwright and literary figure, and Girish Chandra KOLEY (1845-1915), a renowned Bengali actor and dramatist.

Another noteworthy KOLEY was Binodini KOLEY (1863-1924), a pioneering female actor and social reformer who challenged traditional gender roles and contributed significantly to the Bengali theatre scene.

As the name KOLEY spread beyond its initial geographical origins, it can be found in historical records from various parts of India and even in some parts of the diaspora. However, the earliest and most prominent references to this surname can be traced back to its roots in the Bengal region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Koley

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

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

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

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