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

Neeley, 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 Neeley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Neeley in America

Neeley is the 3816th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Neeley surname appeared 9,288 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 Neeley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Neeley 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 Neeley

The surname Neeley has its origins in England, with roots tracing back to the medieval period. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from the Old English words "ne," meaning "near," and "leah," referring to a woodland or clearing. This suggests that the earliest bearers of this name resided near a wooded area or clearing.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Neeley surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive record of landowners and property in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry lists a certain "Nigellus de Neylande," indicating the existence of the name and its association with a specific location.

During the 13th century, the surname appeared in various spellings, including Neyley, Nayley, and Naylye, reflecting the natural evolution of language and regional variations in pronunciation and spelling. Records from this period show individuals with the Neeley surname residing in counties such as Shropshire, Staffordshire, and Warwickshire.

Notable individuals bearing the Neeley surname throughout history include Sir John Neeley (1515-1587), a prominent landowner and member of the gentry in Northamptonshire, and Robert Neeley (1642-1718), a prominent merchant and philanthropist in London who made significant contributions to educational institutions.

In the 17th century, the Neeley family had established a presence in the American colonies. One of the earliest recorded instances is that of William Neeley (1625-1698), who settled in Virginia in the mid-1600s and became a successful farmer and landowner.

Another notable figure was Elizabeth Neeley (1768-1845), a pioneer and early settler in Kentucky, who was renowned for her resilience and bravery in the face of adversity during the westward expansion of the United States.

The 19th century saw the rise of several accomplished individuals with the Neeley surname, such as Reverend Thomas Neeley (1812-1891), a prominent Baptist minister and author in Ohio, and Colonel James Neeley (1837-1918), a Union Army officer during the American Civil War who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his valor at the Battle of Gettysburg.

Throughout its history, the Neeley surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, military leaders, entrepreneurs, and civic leaders, reflecting the diverse contributions made by those bearing this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Neeley

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

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

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

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