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

Parmley, 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 Parmley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Parmley in America

Parmley is the 14374th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Parmley surname appeared 2,080 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 Parmley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Parmley 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 Parmley

The surname Parmley is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval era. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "pærehm" and "leah," which collectively translate to "pear tree meadow" or "pear tree clearing." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near or owned a meadow or clearing with pear trees.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Parmley can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of Norfolk, dating back to the late 13th century. This ancient document mentions a William de Parmele, indicating the surname's presence in the region during that time period.

In the 15th century, the name appears to have evolved into various spellings, such as Parmeley, Parmely, and Parmly, as recorded in various tax rolls and parish records across various counties in England, including Essex, Suffolk, and Hertfordshire.

Notably, the Parmley surname is mentioned in the renowned Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This historical record lists a landowner named Robertus de Parmele, suggesting the name's long-standing presence in England.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Parmley. One such example is John Parmley (1542-1611), a prominent English merchant and Member of Parliament for Gloucester in the late 16th century. Another notable figure was Sir Thomas Parmley (1678-1743), a renowned jurist and politician who served as Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales in the early 18th century.

In the literary realm, William Parmley (1788-1856) was an esteemed English poet and writer, known for his contributions to romantic poetry during the early 19th century. Additionally, Elizabeth Parmley (1820-1892) was a celebrated novelist and playwright whose works explored themes of social injustice and women's rights in Victorian England.

The Parmley surname has also been associated with notable figures in the fields of science and exploration. Sir Richard Parmley (1845-1921) was a renowned British explorer and naturalist who contributed significantly to the study of flora and fauna in the Amazon region during the late 19th century.

These examples showcase the diverse backgrounds and accomplishments of individuals who have carried the Parmley surname throughout history, reflecting its long-standing presence in various areas of English society and culture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Parmley

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

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

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

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