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

Polley, 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 Polley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Polley in America

Polley is the 7042nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Polley surname appeared 4,756 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Polley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Polley 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 Polley

The surname Polley is of English origin, and it is believed to have emerged in the early 13th century. The name is derived from the Old English words "pol" and "leah," which together mean "a clearing in a marshy area." This suggests that the name may have been initially used to describe someone who lived near or owned land in such a location.

The earliest known recording of the surname Polley can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire, England, from the year 1275. This record mentions a certain Robert de Polleye, indicating that the name had already been established by that time.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, including Polly, Pollie, and Pooley, reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation that were common during that era. One notable bearer of the name was John Polley, who was mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1279.

As the surname spread across England, it also became associated with certain place names. For instance, the village of Polley in Wiltshire may have derived its name from the surname, or vice versa. Similarly, the hamlet of Pooley in Cumbria is believed to have a connection to the name's origins.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Polley. One such person was William Polley (c. 1500 - 1570), an English merchant and Member of Parliament for the borough of Lyme Regis during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another prominent figure was John Polley (1630 - 1701), a Puritan minister and author who served as the pastor of the Church of Christ in Tiverton, Devon, for over 40 years. His published works include "A Treatise on the Decrees of God" and "A Discourse on the Covenant of Grace."

In the 18th century, James Polley (1732 - 1815) was a British naval officer who served with distinction during the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars. He rose to the rank of Vice Admiral and was knighted for his service.

Moving into the 19th century, Edward Polley (1810 - 1876) was an English architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Garrick Theatre and the Church of St. Mary Magdalene.

Finally, John Polley (1877 - 1957) was a Canadian lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for the constituency of Portage la Prairie in Manitoba from 1925 to 1935.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Polley

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

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

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

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