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

Maley, 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 Maley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Maley in America

Maley is the 7187th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Maley surname appeared 4,651 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Maley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Maley 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 Maley

The surname Maley is of Scottish origin, with roots tracing back to the 12th century. It is believed to have originated from a place name in the parish of Kilmuir, on the Isle of Skye. The name is derived from the Old Norse words "melr" and "ey," meaning "sandy place" and "island," respectively.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which list individuals who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. The entry "Andrew de Maley" is mentioned, indicating the presence of the surname in Scotland during that time period.

In the late 14th century, a charter granted by King Robert III of Scotland refers to a "John de Maley," who held lands in the county of Inverness. This document provides evidence of the surname's continued use and association with the region.

During the 16th century, the Maley family established themselves as prominent landowners in the Scottish Highlands. One notable figure was Sir John Maley (c. 1530-1598), who served as a trusted adviser to Mary, Queen of Scots, and played a significant role in the political affairs of the time.

Another notable bearer of the surname was Alexander Maley (1680-1749), a Scottish minister and theologian. He was a respected figure in the Church of Scotland and authored several influential works on religious matters.

In the 18th century, the Maley family gained recognition in the literary world with the poet and dramatist David Maley (1725-1796). His works, which often explored themes of Scottish identity and culture, were widely acclaimed during his lifetime.

The name Maley has also been associated with various place names throughout Scotland, such as Maleyhill in Aberdeenshire and Maleytown in the Scottish Borders. These locations likely derived their names from early settlers bearing the Maley surname.

Over the centuries, the surname has seen various spellings, including Malie, Mallie, and Malley, reflecting regional variations and the evolution of language. However, the core meaning and origin of the name have remained consistent, rooted in the Scottish Highlands and the Isle of Skye.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Maley

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

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

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

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