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

Sesley, 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 Sesley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sesley in America

Sesley is the 140157th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sesley surname appeared 119 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 Sesley.

The history of the last name Sesley

The surname SESLEY is of Anglo-Saxon origin and can be traced back to the 11th century in England. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "sæl", meaning a hall or dwelling place, and "ley", meaning a meadow or clearing. This suggests that the name was likely given to families residing in a hall or homestead situated in a meadow or clearing.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name SESLEY can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This document mentions a landowner named Radulfus de Sesley, indicating that the name was already established in parts of England by the late 11th century.

During the Middle Ages, variations of the name appeared in historical records, such as Selesley, Seelsley, and Celesleye. These different spellings likely arose due to regional dialects and the inconsistent spelling conventions of the time.

In the 14th century, a notable figure bearing the name SESLEY was Sir John Sesley, a knight who fought alongside Edward III during the Hundred Years' War. He was recorded as participating in the Battle of Crécy in 1346 and was later granted lands in Warwickshire for his service.

Another prominent individual with this surname was William Sesley, who lived in the late 15th century. He was a wealthy merchant and landowner in the city of Bristol and served as a member of the city's council.

In the 16th century, the name SESLEY was associated with the village of Selsly (or Sesley) in Derbyshire. This village is believed to have been named after an early settler bearing the SESLEY surname, further reinforcing the family's connection to the area.

During the 17th century, a notable figure was Thomas Sesley, a Puritan minister who emigrated from England to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in the 1630s. He played a significant role in the establishment of the town of Rowley, Massachusetts, and served as the town's first minister.

Another individual of note was Sir Richard Sesley, who lived in the late 17th century. He was a wealthy landowner and Member of Parliament for the Borough of Ludlow in Shropshire.

In the 18th century, a prominent member of the SESLEY family was John Sesley, a renowned architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Church of St. Anne and St. Agnes in Gresham Street.

These examples illustrate the longstanding presence of the SESLEY surname in various regions of England, with members of the family holding significant positions and contributing to various fields throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sesley

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

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 Sesley 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.

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

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

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