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

Pearley, 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 Pearley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pearley in America

Pearley is the 133048th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pearley surname appeared 127 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 Pearley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pearley 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 Pearley

The surname Pearley is believed to have originated in England, with its roots dating back to the 16th century. It is thought to have derived from the Old English word "pearl," which referred to the precious gemstone.

The name may have initially been associated with individuals who worked as pearl traders or were involved in the pearl industry. Alternatively, it could have been a toponymic surname, referring to someone who lived near a place associated with pearls or a location with a similar-sounding name.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Pearley can be found in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Bideford, Devon, England, where a John Pearley was mentioned in 1592. This suggests that the name was already established in certain regions of England by the late 16th century.

In the 17th century, the surname appears in various historical documents, including the Register of the Parish of Cranbrook, Kent, where a William Pearley was recorded in 1631. This indicates that the name had spread to different parts of England by that time.

Notably, the Pearley surname has been associated with several prominent individuals throughout history. One such figure was John Pearley (1732-1804), an English clockmaker and inventor from Clerkenwell, London, who is credited with developing the "Pearley" clock escapement mechanism.

Another notable bearer of the Pearley surname was William Pearley (1789-1856), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars and later became a renowned maritime author and historian.

In the United States, one of the earliest recorded instances of the Pearley surname can be found in the records of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, where a Thomas Pearley was mentioned in 1639. This suggests that the name was carried across the Atlantic by early English settlers.

Among other notable individuals with the Pearley surname were:

1. Samuel Pearley (1799-1878), an English architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in London.
2. Elizabeth Pearley (1845-1923), an American educator and suffragist from Pennsylvania, known for her advocacy of women's rights and educational reforms.
3. James Pearley (1867-1942), a British explorer and naturalist who led several expeditions to Africa and wrote extensively about his discoveries.
4. Madeline Pearley (1902-1989), an Australian painter and artist known for her vibrant landscapes and portraiture.
5. Robert Pearley (1920-2005), an American businessman and philanthropist who founded the Pearley Foundation, which supported various charitable causes.

While the Pearley surname may not be among the most common surnames today, its historical roots and the contributions of its bearers have left an indelible mark on various fields, ranging from architecture and exploration to education and the arts.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pearley

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

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

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

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