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

Sheely, 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 Sheely surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sheely in America

Sheely is the 13536th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sheely surname appeared 2,241 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 Sheely.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sheely 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 Sheely

The surname Sheely has its origins in Ireland, tracing back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Gaelic word "sile," meaning "seed" or "offspring," indicating a connection to fertility or abundance.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the 17th century. The name appears in entries dating back to the late 1500s, suggesting its presence in the Irish population at that time.

In the early 17th century, the surname Sheely was particularly prominent in County Cork, where it was associated with several landholding families. Records from this period often show variations in spelling, such as Sheeley, Sheely, and Sheehy.

Notable individuals bearing the Sheely surname include:

1. Brian Sheely (c. 1580-1650), a landowner and local chieftain in County Cork during the 17th century Irish Rebellion.
2. Mary Sheely (c. 1620-1698), an influential figure in the Irish Catholic community of County Limerick during the 17th century.
3. Seamus Sheely (1745-1825), a renowned poet and storyteller from County Mayo, renowned for his contributions to the preservation of Irish folklore.

The Sheely name has also been linked to several place names in Ireland, such as Sheely's Cross in County Tipperary and Sheely's Glen in County Cork. These place names likely originated from families or individuals bearing the surname who resided in or held influence over these areas.

In the 19th century, the Sheely surname gained prominence beyond Ireland, as many Irish immigrants brought the name to countries like the United States, Canada, and Australia. Notable figures from this period include:

1. Michael Sheely (1825-1901), an Irish-American politician who served as a member of the Massachusetts State Legislature.
2. Jane Sheely (1853-1932), a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights in Ontario, Canada.

While the Sheely surname may not be as widespread as some other Irish surnames, its historical roots and connections to various regions of Ireland, as well as its presence in notable figures throughout the centuries, underscore its enduring significance within Irish cultural heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sheely

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

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

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

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