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

Priestly, 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 Priestly surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Priestly in America

Priestly is the 42308th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Priestly surname appeared 513 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 Priestly.

We can also compare 2010 data for Priestly 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 Priestly

The surname Priestly is of English origin, deriving from the Old English word "preost," which means "priest." It emerged as an occupational surname, initially referring to individuals who served as clergy members or were associated with religious duties.

This surname first appeared in historical records during the 12th century in various parts of England, particularly in Yorkshire and Lancashire. Some of the earliest documented instances include Richard le Prestre in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1176 and Robert Prestre in the Assize Rolls of Yorkshire in 1219.

Throughout the Middle Ages, the surname Priestly underwent several spelling variations, such as Preiste, Preste, and Preist, reflecting the fluid nature of name spellings during that period. Records from the 13th and 14th centuries, including the Hundred Rolls of 1273 and the Subsidy Rolls of 1327, mention individuals with these variant spellings.

One noteworthy historical figure bearing the surname Priestly was Joseph Priestley (1733-1804), an English theologian, philosopher, and scientist who is credited with the discovery of oxygen. His pioneering work in chemistry and his contributions to the understanding of gases made him a significant figure in the Age of Enlightenment.

Another prominent individual with this surname was John Boynton Priestley (1894-1984), an English novelist, playwright, and broadcaster. He is best known for his works such as "An Inspector Calls" and "The Good Companions," which explored social issues and the complexities of human behavior.

In the 15th century, the surname Priestly was found in various locations, including Cheshire, where it was associated with the place name Prestbury, derived from the Old English words "preost" and "burg," meaning "priest's town."

Other notable individuals with the surname Priestly include:

1. Thomas Priestley (1733-1804), an English theologian and scholar, brother of Joseph Priestley.
2. Mary Priestley (1925-2008), an English novelist and children's book author.
3. John Priestley (1805-1866), an English civil engineer and surveyor.
4. Raymond Edward Priestley (1886-1974), an English geologist and Antarctic explorer.

While the surname Priestly originated as an occupational name, over time, it became a hereditary surname passed down through generations, transcending its initial occupational association.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Priestly

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

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

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

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