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

Sly, 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 Sly surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sly in America

Sly is the 10050th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sly surname appeared 3,205 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 Sly.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sly 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 Sly

The surname Sly is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "slæge," meaning "cunning" or "sly." This name likely emerged in the Middle Ages, used to describe someone with a crafty or shrewd demeanor.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a record of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror, there are several entries mentioning individuals with the surname Sly or similar spellings, such as Slie or Slye. These early records suggest the name was well-established in various regions of England by the 11th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Sly can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1195, which mention a William Sly. Other early examples include John Sly, who was listed in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1310, and Robert Sly, mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1327.

The surname Sly is also linked to various place names in England, such as Slyfield in Surrey and Sly Willows in Derbyshire. These place names may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.

Notable individuals with the surname Sly throughout history include:

1. Sir Thomas Sly (c. 1420-1490), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire in the late 15th century.
2. John Sly (c. 1550-1608), an English playwright and poet during the Elizabethan era, known for his work "The Yorkshire Tragedy."
3. Elizabeth Sly (c. 1670-1735), an English Quaker author and preacher who published several religious works.
4. William Sly (1856-1939), a British artist and illustrator known for his etchings and engravings of rural landscapes.
5. James Sly (1905-1987), an American actor and stuntman who appeared in numerous Hollywood films throughout the 20th century.

The surname Sly has a rich history, deeply rooted in the English language and culture, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to the Middle Ages. Its evolution and spread across various regions of England have contributed to its enduring legacy as a surname with a distinctive meaning and fascinating origins.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sly

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

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

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

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