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

Pilley, 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 Pilley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pilley in America

Pilley is the 55121st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pilley surname appeared 373 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 Pilley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pilley 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 Pilley

The surname Pilley has its origins in England, and can be traced back to the mid-12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "pyll," meaning a small stream or creek, and the suffix "-ey" or "-y," which denoted a place or location. This suggests that the name was initially given to individuals who lived near a small stream or creek.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire, dated around 1170, where it appears as "de Pille." This indicates that the name was originally a locational surname, referring to a person from a place called Pille or Pilley.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landholdings and properties in England compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror, does not contain any direct references to the surname Pilley. However, it does mention several places with similar names, such as "Pillei" in Derbyshire and "Pille" in Oxfordshire, which could be related to the origin of the surname.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, including "de Pille," "de Pilley," and "de Pylly." This variation in spelling was common during this period, as standardized spellings had not yet been established.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Pilley was John de Pilley, who was mentioned in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327. Another notable figure was William Pilley, a landowner in Gloucestershire, who was mentioned in the Inquisitiones Post Mortem records in 1428.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname Pilley became more widespread and appeared in various parts of England. Some notable individuals from this period include:

1. Richard Pilley (c. 1530-1594), an English clergyman and author.
2. John Pilley (1556-1626), a playwright and actor in London during the Elizabethan era.
3. Margaret Pilley (c. 1580-1638), a midwife and herbalist in Stratford-upon-Avon, known for her association with William Shakespeare's family.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, the surname Pilley continued to be found in various parts of England, with some families migrating to other parts of the world, such as North America and Australia. Notable individuals from this period include:

1. Thomas Pilley (1756-1831), an English-born merchant and landowner in Virginia, USA.
2. Elizabeth Pilley (1828-1905), an English artist and portrait painter.

Throughout its history, the surname Pilley has undergone various spelling variations, including Pilly, Pylly, Pillie, and Pilie, reflecting the inconsistencies in spelling during earlier periods. While not a particularly common surname, the name has persisted and is still found in various parts of the world today.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pilley

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

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

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

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