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

Motley, 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 Motley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Motley in America

Motley is the 3480th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Motley surname appeared 10,274 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Motley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Motley 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 Motley

The surname Motley originates from England, first appearing during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old English words "mot" meaning a meeting or assembly, and "leah" meaning a meadow or clearing. This suggests the name may have referred to a person who lived near a communal gathering place or meeting meadow.

The earliest recorded spelling of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, listed as Motleia. This indicates the name was present in Anglo-Saxon England prior to the Norman Conquest. Variations such as Motley, Mottley, and Motteley emerged over the following centuries.

In the 13th century, the name is found in records from Lancashire, with Henry de Motlegh mentioned in the Lancashire Assize Rolls of 1246. This points to the name being particularly prominent in northern England during the Middle Ages.

The name Motley has connections to several place names, including Motley in Cheshire and Motley Hill in Wiltshire. These locations may have influenced the surname's development and spread.

Notable historical figures with the surname Motley include John Lothrop Motley (1814-1877), an American historian and diplomat known for his works on the Dutch Republic. Another prominent individual was John Motley (1714-1773), an English dramatist and playwright who wrote several popular comedies in the 18th century.

Other individuals of note bearing the Motley name include William Motley (1815-1873), an American bishop and abolitionist; Archibald Motley Jr. (1891-1981), an African American painter and pioneer of the Harlem Renaissance art movement; and Willard Motley (1909-1965), an American novelist best known for his depictions of life in Chicago.

While the Motley surname is not among the most common, it has a rich history spanning over nine centuries, with roots in the language and landscape of medieval England. Its evolution and prevalence in certain regions reflect the diverse paths surnames have taken throughout British history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Motley

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

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

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

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