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

Scalley, 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 Scalley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Scalley in America

Scalley is the 60347th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Scalley surname appeared 334 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 Scalley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Scalley 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 Scalley

The surname Scalley is of English origin and dates back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated in the northern regions of England, particularly in counties such as Yorkshire and Lancashire. The name is derived from the Old English word "scalu," which means "small" or "thin."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Scalley can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from the 13th century, where it appears as "Scaly." This variation in spelling was common during that time due to the lack of standardized spellings.

In the 14th century, the Scalley surname appeared in various records, including the Hundred Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1273, where it was recorded as "Skayley." This variation suggests a possible connection to the place name "Scawley" in Derbyshire, which may have influenced the spelling.

During the 16th century, the Scalley surname gained prominence with notable figures such as John Scalley (1510-1578), a renowned scholar and theologian from Yorkshire. He was known for his works on religious reform and played a significant role in the English Reformation.

Another notable bearer of the Scalley name was William Scalley (1628-1692), a merchant and landowner from Lancashire. He was instrumental in establishing trade routes between England and the American colonies, contributing to the economic growth of the region.

In the 18th century, the Scalley surname appeared in various parish records across England, particularly in the counties of Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Derbyshire. One notable individual from this period was Elizabeth Scalley (1745-1812), a prominent philanthropist and advocate for educational reform in Yorkshire.

The 19th century saw the Scalley surname continue to spread across England, with notable individuals like Thomas Scalley (1812-1882), a renowned architect who designed several churches and public buildings in London and the surrounding areas.

Another significant figure was James Scalley (1867-1943), a prominent politician and Member of Parliament for the constituency of Sheffield during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He played a crucial role in shaping labor laws and advocating for workers' rights.

While the Scalley surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and immigration. However, the earliest recorded instances and the majority of historical references can be traced back to the northern regions of England, particularly Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Derbyshire.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Scalley

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

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

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

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