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

Pooley, 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 Pooley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pooley in America

Pooley is the 18676th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pooley surname appeared 1,472 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 Pooley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pooley 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 Pooley

The surname Pooley originates from England and is believed to have derived from the Old English word 'pol' meaning a pool or stream. It is thought to have been an occupational surname given to those who lived near or worked around pools or bodies of water.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as 'de Poolega' and 'de Poligia'. These early spellings suggest the name was initially derived from a place name, likely referring to a settlement near a pool or stream.

In the 13th century, the name began to appear in various forms such as 'Polly', 'Poolie', and 'Pooley'. During this time, the surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Cumberland, Westmorland, and Yorkshire, where many places containing the word 'pool' were located.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Pooley was John Pooley, who was born in Westmorland around 1320. Another notable figure was Sir William Pooley, a knight from Yorkshire who lived in the late 14th century.

In the 16th century, the name Pooley was associated with several prominent families in the Lake District region of Cumbria. One such family was the Pooleys of Calgarth, whose ancestral home was located near the village of Troutbeck. This family produced several notable individuals, including Thomas Pooley (1697-1761), a renowned author and antiquarian.

Another significant bearer of the Pooley name was Robert Pooley (1758-1808), a renowned English naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars. He was celebrated for his bravery and leadership in several major battles, including the Battle of Trafalgar.

In the 19th century, the Pooley family continued to maintain a presence in the Lake District, with several members becoming involved in the local mining industry. One such individual was John Pooley (1820-1892), who was a prominent mine owner and businessman in the area.

Throughout its history, the surname Pooley has been associated with various occupations and professions, from authors and antiquarians to naval officers and mine owners. Its origins can be traced back to the medieval period in England, where it was likely derived from a place name or occupational reference related to pools or streams.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pooley

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

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

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

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