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

Radley, 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 Radley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Radley in America

Radley is the 14946th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Radley surname appeared 1,979 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 Radley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Radley 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 Radley

The surname Radley has its origins in England and dates back to the medieval period. It is believed to be a locational name derived from the place name Radley, which is found in several counties in England, including Berkshire, Oxfordshire, and Warwickshire.

The name Radley itself is thought to have originated from the Old English words "rad" meaning "red" and "leah" meaning "a clearing in a forest." This suggests that the name was initially given to someone who lived near a red-colored clearing or settlement.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Radley can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Redlei" and "Radleia." This reference indicates that the name was already in use during the Norman Conquest of England.

In the 13th century, the name appears in various forms such as "Radeleye," "Radeleygh," and "Radelegh" in various historical records and documents, reflecting the evolving spelling of the name over time.

One notable bearer of the name was John Radley, a 15th-century English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Oxfordshire in 1472. Another was Sir George Radley, a 17th-century English landowner and politician who represented Oxfordshire in the House of Commons from 1640 to 1644.

In the 18th century, the name gained prominence with William Radley (1698-1778), an English architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Radley House in Bloomsbury.

Another significant figure was Robert Radley (1753-1827), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars. He rose to the rank of Vice Admiral and was known for his bravery and leadership in several battles.

In the 19th century, the name was associated with Thomas Radley (1803-1885), an English theologian and academic who served as the Principal of St. Mary Hall, Oxford, and later became the President of St. John's College, Oxford.

Throughout its history, the surname Radley has been associated with various professions, including politics, architecture, military service, and academia, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of those who have carried this name over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Radley

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

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

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

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