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

Shadley, 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 Shadley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Shadley in America

Shadley is the 28940th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Shadley surname appeared 821 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 Shadley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Shadley 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 Shadley

The surname Shadley has its roots in medieval England, believed to have originated in the 13th century. It is thought to be a variant spelling of the Old English name Scadleah, which is derived from the words "sceadu" meaning "shade" and "leah" meaning "meadow" or "woodland clearing."

Early records show the name Shadley first appeared in the county of Cheshire, located in the northwest of England. This region was known for its lush forests and verdant landscapes, lending credence to the name's connection to wooded areas. Some of the earliest documented instances of the surname can be found in the Cheshire County Rolls from the late 13th century.

One of the earliest known individuals bearing the name Shadley was Sir Robert Shadley, a knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War during the late 14th century. His bravery earned him recognition in the Chronicles of Froissart, a famous historical text that documented the events of the time.

In the 15th century, the Shadley family expanded their presence to neighboring counties, with records showing individuals of the same surname residing in Lancashire and Yorkshire. Notable among them was William Shadley, a prominent landowner who lived in the village of Haworth, Yorkshire, during the latter half of the 15th century.

By the 16th century, the Shadley name had spread further across England, with records indicating individuals bearing the surname in various parts of the country. One notable figure from this period was John Shadley, a wealthy merchant from London who was active in the city's thriving trade industry.

Throughout the centuries, the Shadley surname has seen various spelling variations, including Shedley, Shedleigh, and Shedlaw. These variations likely arose due to the inconsistencies in record-keeping and the evolution of the English language over time.

In addition to the aforementioned individuals, other notable figures bearing the Shadley surname include:

1. Sir Thomas Shadley (1587-1642), an English courtier and Member of Parliament during the reign of King Charles I.
2. Margaret Shadley (1652-1718), a renowned horticulturist and author of the influential work "The Compleat Gardener's Delight."
3. Richard Shadley (1725-1789), a prominent architect who designed several churches and estates in the English countryside.
4. Elizabeth Shadley (1801-1878), a celebrated poet and writer during the Romantic period.
5. James Shadley (1856-1912), a successful industrialist and philanthropist who founded the Shadley Foundation for orphaned children.

While the Shadley surname may not be among the most common in modern times, its rich history and deep roots in medieval England serve as a testament to the enduring legacy of this ancient family name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Shadley

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

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

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

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