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

Nunnelley, 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 Nunnelley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nunnelley in America

Nunnelley is the 41234th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nunnelley surname appeared 528 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 Nunnelley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nunnelley 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 Nunnelley

The surname Nunnelley has its origins in the British Isles, dating back to the medieval period in England. It is believed to be derived from a topographic name, referring to a geographical feature or location. The name may have evolved from the Old English words "nunnan" and "leah," meaning "nun's meadow" or "nun's clearing."

One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The Domesday Book lists several individuals with the surname spelled as "Nunnelea" or similar variations.

In the 13th century, records show a John de Nunnelee residing in the county of Staffordshire, England. Around the same time, a Robert de Nunneleye was documented in the county of Warwickshire. These early spellings demonstrate the evolution of the surname from its Old English roots.

The name Nunnelley is also closely associated with the village of Nunneley, located in the county of Worcestershire, England. It is possible that the surname originated from this place name, with individuals adopting the name to indicate their place of residence or origin.

Notable individuals bearing the surname Nunnelley throughout history include:

1. Thomas Nunnelley (c. 1540-1597), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Rector of Lincoln College, Oxford, from 1584 until his death.

2. William Nunnelley (1675-1729), a British merchant and landowner who played a prominent role in the development of the Virginia colony in the early 18th century.

3. Elizabeth Nunnelley (1798-1872), an English author and poet, known for her collection of romantic verses published in 1845.

4. John Nunnelley (1825-1901), a British architect renowned for his work on several notable churches and public buildings in London during the Victorian era.

5. Sarah Nunnelley (1861-1938), an American educator and women's rights activist who worked tirelessly to promote educational opportunities for women in the southern United States.

While the surname Nunnelley is not among the most common names, it has a rich history that can be traced back to the medieval period in England, with connections to both geographical locations and notable individuals who have left their mark on various fields throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nunnelley

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

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

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

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