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

Remley, 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 Remley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Remley in America

Remley is the 17851st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Remley surname appeared 1,567 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 Remley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Remley 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 Remley

The surname Remley has its origins in England, and its earliest recorded use dates back to the 12th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Old English words "ræm" and "leah," which together mean "ram's meadow" or "clearing where rams grazed." This suggests that the name may have originated from a place name or location where the early bearers of the name lived or worked.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Remley can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, where a certain William de Ramelei is mentioned. This spelling variation highlights the fluidity of surnames during that era, as they were often adapted based on local dialects and pronunciation.

Another early reference to the name Remley can be found in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire from 1279, which mention a John de Ramelay. This document provides valuable insight into the geographical spread of the name within England during the medieval period.

Notable individuals bearing the surname Remley throughout history include Sir Robert Remley (1542-1616), a prominent landowner and member of the English gentry in Warwickshire. John Remley (1675-1742) was an English clergyman and author who published several works on theology and philosophy.

In the United States, one of the earliest recorded Remleys was Thomas Remley (1720-1789), who immigrated from England to Virginia in the mid-18th century. His descendants later settled in various parts of the country, contributing to the spread of the name across the United States.

Another significant figure was William Remley (1814-1891), a prominent businessman and politician who served as the Mayor of Newark, New Jersey, from 1877 to 1880. He played a crucial role in the city's development and infrastructure during that period.

Elizabeth Remley (1876-1958) was an American author and educator who wrote several books on literature and literary criticism. She taught at various universities, including Columbia University and the University of California, Berkeley.

The name Remley has also been associated with various place names and locations throughout history. For example, Remley Farm in Derbyshire, England, dates back to the 16th century and was likely named after an early bearer of the surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Remley

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

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

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

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