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

Minley, 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 Minley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Minley in America

Minley is the 140157th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Minley surname appeared 119 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 Minley.

The history of the last name Minley

The surname Minley has its origins in England, dating back to the early medieval period. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from the place name "Minley" or "Mineley" in Hampshire, which in turn comes from the Old English words "mynon" meaning "boundary" and "leah" meaning "woodland clearing."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Hampshire from 1195, where a certain Roger de Mineleye is mentioned. This indicates that the name was already well-established in the region by the late 12th century.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, various spellings of the name appeared in historical records, such as "Minelegh," "Myneleye," and "Myneley." These variations reflect the evolution of the name over time and the inconsistencies in spelling that were common in medieval documents.

In the 16th century, the name Minley gained some prominence with the birth of Henry Minley (c. 1515 - 1587), a prominent landowner and member of the gentry in Hampshire. His family's holdings included the manor of Minley, further cementing the connection between the surname and the local area.

Another notable figure was Sir Walter Minley (1593 - 1659), a member of Parliament and a staunch Royalist during the English Civil War. He was knighted by King Charles I in recognition of his loyalty and service.

In the 18th century, the Minley name was associated with the development of the town of Minley in Hampshire, which grew around the Minley Estate owned by the prominent Minley family of the time.

Other historical figures bearing the surname include John Minley (1677 - 1744), a successful merchant and landowner in Hampshire, and Elizabeth Minley (1720 - 1792), a noted philanthropist and benefactor of several charities in the region.

Throughout its history, the surname Minley has remained strongly linked to the county of Hampshire and the original place name from which it derived. While not a widespread name, it has left a notable mark in the local history and records of the area.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Minley

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

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 Minley 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.

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

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

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