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

Ongley, 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 Ongley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ongley in America

Ongley is the 75799th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ongley surname appeared 254 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 Ongley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ongley 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 Ongley

The surname Ongley is believed to have originated in England, with roots dating back to the medieval period. This name is thought to derive from the Old English words "ang" or "ange," meaning "narrow" or "confined," and "leah," meaning a meadow or clearing in a forest.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ongley can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landholdings and property ownership commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry mentions an individual named Ongley who held land in the county of Yorkshire.

During the Middle Ages, the name was often spelled in various ways, such as Ongelegh, Ongelie, and Ongelye, reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling conventions of the time. These variations were likely influenced by the different dialects spoken in the areas where the name was prevalent.

In the 13th century, records show an Ongley family holding land in the village of Ongley, near Chesterfield in Derbyshire. This village may have been named after the family or vice versa, but it is a clear indication of the name's early presence in the area.

One notable individual bearing the Ongley surname was Sir Robert Ongley (c. 1460 - 1528), a member of the English gentry and a prominent figure during the reigns of Henry VII and Henry VIII. He served as a Member of Parliament and held various positions of authority in Staffordshire and Derbyshire.

Another significant figure was John Ongley (1624 - 1705), an English Puritan minister and author who served as the rector of Little Musgrave in Westmorland. He is known for his published works, including "The Old Puritan's Principles and Practices Revived" and "A Discourse on Repentance."

In the 18th century, Samuel Ongley (1718 - 1786) was a notable English poet and playwright. He is best remembered for his satirical play "The Footman's Miscellany," which was performed at the Drury Lane Theatre in London.

The name Ongley also has connections to the United States, where it was likely brought by English immigrants during the colonial era. One early example is Joseph Ongley (1763 - 1839), a soldier who fought in the American Revolutionary War and later settled in Virginia.

Furthermore, William Ongley (1801 - 1875) was a prominent American architect and civil engineer who designed several notable buildings in New York City, including the Old Merchants' Exchange and the New York Crystal Palace for the Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations in 1853.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ongley

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

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

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

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