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

Peasley, 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 Peasley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Peasley in America

Peasley is the 15985th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Peasley surname appeared 1,816 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 Peasley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Peasley 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 Peasley

The surname Peasley is of English origin, emerging in the medieval period around the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "pesa" meaning pea and "leah" meaning a meadow or clearing, suggesting the name may have been given to someone who lived near or worked on a field where peas were grown.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273, where it appears as "Peseleia". This document was a survey of landowners in England, indicating that individuals bearing this surname may have held land or property during that time.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms such as "Peysley" and "Peyseley" in records from Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. These variations likely arose due to regional dialects and the inconsistent spelling practices of the era.

A notable figure bearing this surname was Sir John Peasley (c. 1490 - 1558), a member of the English gentry and a prominent landowner in Shropshire. He served as High Sheriff of Shropshire in 1535 and was knighted by King Henry VIII.

Another individual of historical significance was Thomas Peasley (1615 - 1670), an English Puritan minister who emigrated to Massachusetts Bay Colony in the 17th century. He served as a pastor in several congregations and was involved in the establishment of the town of Haverhill, Massachusetts.

In the 18th century, the name appeared in various parish records across England, including those of Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, and Gloucestershire. These records often provide insights into the lives and families of individuals with the Peasley surname during that period.

One notable example from this time is William Peasley (1739 - 1811), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars. He achieved the rank of Post-Captain and was commended for his bravery and leadership in several naval engagements.

Another individual of note was Henry Peasley (1801 - 1878), a pioneering English photographer who made significant contributions to the development of photographic techniques in the early days of the medium. He is credited with introducing the use of glass plates for negatives, which greatly improved the quality and durability of photographs.

While the Peasley surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through immigration and diaspora movements. However, its origins can be traced back to the medieval period and its connection to the Old English words for "pea" and "meadow".

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Peasley

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

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

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

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