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

Noles, 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 Noles surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Noles in America

Noles is the 10125th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Noles surname appeared 3,183 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Noles.

We can also compare 2010 data for Noles 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 Noles

The surname NOLES is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, likely derived from the Old English word "nol," meaning "head" or "crown." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone with a distinctive or prominent head shape or hairstyle.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname NOLES can be traced back to the 13th century, with mentions appearing in various historical records and manuscripts. One notable example is the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which documented landowners and their holdings across England, where the name is listed as "Noles."

In the following centuries, the surname continued to appear in various forms, with slight spelling variations such as "Nolles," "Nollis," and "Noyles." These variations likely emerged due to regional dialects and the inconsistent spelling practices of the time.

The NOLES surname was particularly prominent in the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk in eastern England, where several families bearing the name are recorded in parish registers and local records from the 16th and 17th centuries.

One notable individual with the surname NOLES was Robert Noles (c. 1580-1650), a wealthy landowner and prominent figure in the village of Thetford, Norfolk. His name appears in various property deeds and legal documents from the early 17th century.

Another historical figure was William Noles (1625-1698), a merchant and ship owner from Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. He was involved in the flourishing maritime trade of the region and is mentioned in port records and customs documents from the late 17th century.

In the 18th century, the NOLES surname spread to other parts of England, with records showing families bearing the name in counties such as Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. One notable example is John Noles (1740-1812), a farmer and landowner from the village of Wragby, Lincolnshire, who is mentioned in local parish records and land deeds.

Another prominent individual was Elizabeth Noles (1782-1856), a philanthropist and social reformer from York. She was actively involved in various charitable organizations and is credited with establishing several schools and orphanages in the city.

During the 19th century, the NOLES surname continued to be found across England, with families bearing the name in cities such as London and Manchester. One notable figure from this period was Charles Noles (1820-1892), a successful businessman and industrialist from Manchester, who played a significant role in the city's textile industry.

While the surname NOLES originated in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through emigration and migration. However, its roots can be traced back to the medieval period in eastern England, where it likely emerged as a descriptive name related to physical appearance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Noles

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

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

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

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