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

Molly, 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 Molly surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Molly in America

Molly is the 98982nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Molly surname appeared 183 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 Molly.

We can also compare 2010 data for Molly 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 Molly

The surname Molly has its origins in medieval England, emerging in the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English words "mol" or "mol-y," meaning "bare" or "bald," likely referring to someone with little or no hair. The name was initially a descriptive nickname or byname given to individuals with a distinctive physical attribute.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Molly can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, a census-like survey conducted during the reign of King Edward I. The entry mentions a "William Molli" from Oxfordshire, demonstrating the surname's existence at that time.

The Molly surname has also been linked to various place names in England, such as Moulton in Lincolnshire and Molesworth in Huntingdonshire. These locations may have influenced the development and spread of the surname, particularly among families residing in or near those areas.

Notable historical figures bearing the Molly surname include Richard Molly (c. 1490-1555), an English priest and theologian who served as the Bishop of Bangor during the reign of Queen Mary I. Another prominent individual was John Molly (1638-1701), a British mathematician and astronomer known for his contributions to the study of celestial mechanics.

In the literary realm, Samuel Molly (1679-1744) was an English poet and playwright who authored several works, including the tragedy "The Fair Penitent." His contemporary, Thomas Molly (1690-1765), was a notable architect responsible for designing several churches and country houses in England.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, variations of the surname's spelling emerged, such as Molle, Mollie, and Molly. These variations reflect the fluid nature of surname spellings in earlier periods, often influenced by regional dialects and scribal inconsistencies.

The Molly surname has a rich history spanning several centuries, originating as a descriptive nickname and evolving into a well-established family name. Its roots can be traced back to medieval England, where it gained recognition and was carried by individuals from various walks of life, including clergy, scholars, and artists.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Molly

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

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

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

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