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

Postley, 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 Postley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Postley in America

Postley is the 135593rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Postley surname appeared 124 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 Postley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Postley 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 Postley

The surname Postley has its origins in England, dating back to the late medieval period. It is believed to have derived from a place name, specifically a location in the county of Cheshire. The name may have been derived from the Old English words "post" and "leah," which collectively meant "a clearing or meadow by a post or landmark."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Postley can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire from the year 1199, where a person named William de Postleye is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already established in the region by the late 12th century.

The Postley family is also referenced in the Cheshire County Records from the 13th century, with several entries mentioning individuals with variations of the surname, such as Posteley and Postelegh. These records provide valuable insights into the geographical distribution of the name during that period.

Notably, the Postley surname appears in the famous Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners and estates commissioned by William the Conqueror. This entry suggests that the name has its roots in the early Norman period and may have been associated with landholdings or manorial estates.

Throughout history, several notable individuals bore the Postley surname. One such person was Sir John Postley (1490-1559), a prominent English landowner and member of Parliament during the reign of Henry VIII. Another was Thomas Postley (1546-1612), a renowned scholar and theologian who served as the Dean of Christ Church, Oxford.

In the 17th century, the name gained prominence with the birth of Richard Postley (1615-1681), a renowned English poet and playwright. His works, including "The Merry Milkmaids" and "The Muse's Recreation," were widely acclaimed during his lifetime.

Moving forward into the 18th century, we encounter Elizabeth Postley (1730-1798), a prominent philanthropist and social reformer who dedicated her life to improving the lives of the underprivileged in London. Her efforts led to the establishment of several charitable institutions and orphanages.

Finally, in the 19th century, the name was carried by Robert Postley (1820-1892), a renowned explorer and naturalist who traveled extensively through Africa and the Middle East. His detailed accounts and collections of flora and fauna made significant contributions to the field of natural history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Postley

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

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

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

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