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

Sholey, 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 Sholey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sholey in America

Sholey is the 134712th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sholey surname appeared 125 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 Sholey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sholey 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 Sholey

The surname Sholey has its origins in England, with records indicating its emergence in the early 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "shole," which referred to a shallow place or a shoal. This connection suggests that the name may have initially been associated with individuals residing near such geographic features.

One of the earliest documented references to the name can be found in the Feet of Fines, a collection of legal agreements from the late 12th to the early 14th century, where a certain Robert de Shole is mentioned in 1247. This record provides evidence of the name's existence during that time period.

In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, a survey of landowners commissioned by King Edward I, there is an entry for a William de la Shole in Berkshire. This suggests that the name had already begun to evolve into its more modern form by the latter part of the 13th century.

The Sholey surname is also linked to various place names in England, such as Sholly in Derbyshire and Sholey in Staffordshire. These locations may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the name over time.

Notable individuals bearing the Sholey surname throughout history include:

1. Richard Sholey (c. 1540-1612), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Steyning in 1586.
2. John Sholey (1595-1672), an English clergyman and author of several religious works, including "The Practical Christian" (1651).
3. Elizabeth Sholey (1674-1736), a prominent Quaker preacher and writer from Gloucestershire.
4. Thomas Sholey (1720-1798), a successful merchant and landowner in Dorset, known for his philanthropic endeavors.
5. William Sholey (1812-1889), a renowned architect from Yorkshire, responsible for designing several notable buildings in the region.

While the Sholey surname may not have been as widely documented as some others, its history can be traced back several centuries, reflecting the rich tapestry of English nomenclature and its connection to the land and its inhabitants.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sholey

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

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

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

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