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

Spradley, 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 Spradley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Spradley in America

Spradley is the 9471st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Spradley surname appeared 3,434 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 Spradley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Spradley 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 Spradley

The surname Spradley has its origins in England, tracing back to the medieval period. It is believed to be a locational name derived from a place called Spratley or Spradley, which was likely a small village or hamlet. The name itself is thought to have evolved from the Old English words "spræc" and "leah," which together translate to "brushwood clearing" or "clearing in the thicket."

Historical records suggest that the name Spradley first appeared in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and population across England commissioned by William the Conqueror. It is listed as a place name, providing evidence of the existence of a settlement called Spradley at that time.

The earliest known record of an individual bearing the surname Spradley dates back to the late 13th century. In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, a certain Robert de Spradley is mentioned as a landowner in Oxfordshire. This document serves as one of the earliest written accounts of the name in its modern spelling.

Throughout the centuries, the surname Spradley has been subject to various spelling variations, including Spradlee, Spradlie, Spradlay, and Spradeley. These variations often reflect regional dialects and the inconsistencies in written records from past eras.

One notable figure with the surname Spradley was Sir John Spradley, a prominent merchant and alderman in the City of London during the 16th century. He was born in 1525 and served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1579.

Another individual of historical significance was William Spradley (1660-1735), a renowned clockmaker from the town of Grantham in Lincolnshire. His intricate timepieces were highly sought after by the English gentry of his time.

In the realm of literature, the name Spradley is associated with Edwin Spradley (1829-1892), an American poet and journalist who gained recognition for his works during the mid-19th century. His collection of poems, "Echoes from the West," was published in 1870.

The 18th century also saw the rise of Samuel Spradley (1718-1795), a prominent farmer and landowner from Virginia. His extensive agricultural holdings and contribution to the local community earned him a respected reputation in the colonial era.

Lastly, one cannot overlook the achievements of Mary Spradley (1892-1972), a pioneering female aviator from the United States. She obtained her pilot's license in 1919 and went on to become one of the first women to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean in 1933.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Spradley

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

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

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

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