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

Lyerly, 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 Lyerly surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Lyerly in America

Lyerly is the 21092nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Lyerly surname appeared 1,245 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 Lyerly.

We can also compare 2010 data for Lyerly 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 Lyerly

The surname LYERLY has its origins in the German language and can be traced back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Old German word "lier," which means "elm tree." This name was likely given to someone who lived near an elm tree or a grove of elm trees.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name LYERLY can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae, a collection of historical documents from Saxony, dating back to the 13th century. In this text, a person named "Lierlerus" is mentioned as a landowner in the region.

During the 15th century, the LYERLY name appeared in various records across the German states. In 1467, a man named Johannes LYERLY was listed as a citizen of the city of Nuremberg. Additionally, in 1492, a certain Hans LYERLY was documented as a merchant in the town of Erfurt.

As the centuries progressed, the LYERLY name spread beyond Germany due to migration and trade. In the 16th century, a nobleman named Heinrich LYERLY (1523-1587) was known for his military service in the Holy Roman Empire.

The name also found its way to the British Isles, where it underwent some spelling variations. In Scotland, the LYERLY name was recorded as "Leirlie" in the 17th century. One notable individual was Robert Leirlie (1621-1698), a prominent landowner and magistrate in Aberdeenshire.

In the 18th century, a French explorer named Jacques LYERLY (1738-1812) gained recognition for his expeditions to the West Indies and the Caribbean. His journal, "Voyages dans les Caraïbes," provided valuable insights into the region's geography and culture.

The 19th century saw the LYERLY name appear in the United States, likely brought by German immigrants. One notable figure was William LYERLY (1812-1892), a successful businessman and philanthropist from North Carolina, who played a significant role in the development of the textile industry in the American South.

Throughout history, the LYERLY surname has been associated with various professions and achievements, from landowners and merchants to military personnel, explorers, and industrialists. While its origins can be traced back to the elm tree, the name has taken on a rich tapestry of stories and legacies across different cultures and regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Lyerly

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

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

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

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