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

Longley, 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 Longley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Longley in America

Longley is the 10059th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Longley surname appeared 3,204 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 Longley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Longley 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 Longley

The surname Longley is of English origin, with roots dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "lang" and "leah," which together signify a long meadow or clearing. This name likely originated in areas where such landscapes were prevalent, such as the counties of Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Derbyshire.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Longley can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landholdings and resources commissioned by William the Conqueror. This ancient document contains references to individuals bearing variations of the name, including Langelei and Longelei, indicating its long-standing presence in England.

During the 13th century, the name Longley appeared in various legal and ecclesiastical records, such as the Pipe Rolls and the Chartularies of religious houses. One notable example is Robert de Longeleia, a landowner mentioned in the Chartulary of Rievaulx Abbey in Yorkshire in 1240.

By the 16th century, the spelling of the name had evolved closer to its modern form. In 1563, the marriage of John Longley and Agnes Browne was recorded in the parish registers of Ecclesfield, Yorkshire. This region, along with Lancashire and Derbyshire, remained strongholds for the Longley surname throughout the subsequent centuries.

Among the notable individuals who bore the Longley name, Sir Henry Longley (1549-1611) stands out as a distinguished lawyer and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another prominent figure was Thomas Longley (1794-1868), who served as the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1862 until his death, playing a significant role in the Church of England during the Victorian era.

In the realm of literature, the English poet and writer William Longley (1813-1881) made his mark with works such as "The Midnight Watch" and "The Sailing of King Olaf." Additionally, the American artist and educator Earl Longley (1894-1980) gained recognition for his landscape paintings and his role as a professor at the University of Oregon.

The Longley surname has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Longley Lane in Huddersfield and Longley Village in Sheffield, both located in Yorkshire. These toponyms further reinforce the connection between the name and the geographical features from which it originated.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Longley

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

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

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

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