Softley
A toponymic surname derived from a location named for its soft or gentle landscape.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 240 Americans carry the last name Softley. That puts it at #93,921 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.07 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,428,143 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Softley surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
240
1 in 1,428,143
Census rank
#93,921
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
195
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 195 bearers of the surname Softley in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.07 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 93921st position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Softley, the largest self-reported group is White at 62.6%. The next largest groups are Black (34.4%) and Two or More Races (2.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Softley
The surname Softley is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational name, derived from a place name referring to a soft or low-lying area of land. The earliest known record of the name dates back to the late 13th century, where it appears as "de Softelee" in the Cambridgeshire Assize Rolls of 1260.
One of the earliest known bearers of the Softley name was John de Softelee, who was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls for Cambridgeshire in 1327. Another early record includes William Softley, who was listed in the Hearth Tax Returns for Yorkshire in 1672. The name also appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is recorded as "Softeleia" in reference to a settlement in Cambridgeshire.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, variations of the name's spelling began to emerge, such as Softley, Softlie, and Softlay. These variations were likely the result of regional dialects and the inconsistent spelling practices of the time. One notable individual from this period was Robert Softley, a merchant from London who was born in 1587.
In the 19th century, the Softley name continued to be found predominantly in England, with a particular concentration in the counties of Cambridgeshire, Yorkshire, and Norfolk. Notable individuals from this period include William Softley (1794-1871), a farmer from Cambridgeshire, and John Softley (1828-1903), a prominent industrialist from Yorkshire.
Throughout history, the Softley name has also been associated with various place names, such as Softley Hill in Cambridgeshire and Softley Farm in Norfolk. These place names likely derived from the same linguistic roots as the surname itself, further reinforcing the locational origins of the name.
Other notable individuals bearing the Softley surname include Sir Robert Softley (1884-1958), a British politician and Member of Parliament, and Margaret Softley (1904-1986), an English author and poet. These examples demonstrate the enduring presence of the Softley name across various fields and professions throughout the centuries.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Softley
Among Census respondents with the surname Softley, the largest self-reported group is White at 62.6%. The next largest groups are Black (34.4%) and Two or More Races (2.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Softley bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Softley surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White62.6%
- Black or African American34.4%
- Two or more races2.6%
- Unknown or suppressed0.5%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Softley surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #105,374 | #93,921 | 10.9% |
| Count | 157 | 195 | 24.2% |
| Per 100K | 0.06 | 0.07 | 16.7% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Softley bearers went from 157 to 195 (+24.2% change). The surname moved up 11,453 positions in the national ranking, going from #105,374 to #93,921.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Softley
FAQ
Softley surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Softley?
The surname Softley holds position #93,921 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 240 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.07 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Softley surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Softley, the largest self-reported group is White at 62.6%. The next largest groups are Black (34.4%) and Two or More Races (2.6%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.