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

Sterley, 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 Sterley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sterley in America

Sterley is the 95955th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sterley surname appeared 190 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 Sterley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sterley 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 Sterley

The surname Sterley originates from England, with its roots dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word 'steorle,' meaning 'starling,' which was likely a nickname given to someone with a dark complexion or a lively personality reminiscent of the bird.

One of the earliest known references to the surname Sterley can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as 'Sterlinge.' This historical record suggests that the name was already established in some parts of England by the late 11th century.

During the 13th century, the surname Sterley appeared in various forms, such as 'Sterlyng,' 'Sterlynge,' and 'Sterlinge,' reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation common in that era. These variations can be traced to different regions of England, where local dialects influenced the spelling and pronunciation of surnames.

One notable figure bearing the surname Sterley was Sir Thomas Sterley (c. 1420-1483), a wealthy merchant and alderman from London. He held significant influence in the city's affairs and served as the Sheriff of London in 1459.

In the 16th century, the surname Sterley was found in various parts of England, including Yorkshire, where a family of that name resided in the village of Sterley, near Doncaster. This place name likely contributed to the spelling and pronunciation of the surname in that region.

Another prominent individual with the surname Sterley was Sir John Sterley (c. 1570-1644), a Member of Parliament for Worcestershire and a supporter of the Royalist cause during the English Civil War.

During the 17th century, the Sterley surname gained prominence in the county of Cheshire, where a family of that name held land and estates. One notable member was Sir William Sterley (1638-1711), a wealthy landowner and Justice of the Peace in Cheshire.

In the 18th century, the Sterley family maintained a presence in various parts of England, including Oxfordshire, where Samuel Sterley (1715-1788) was a respected clergyman and author of several theological works.

Throughout its history, the surname Sterley has undergone various spelling variations, such as 'Starley,' 'Sterly,' and 'Sterlie,' reflecting the fluidity of surnames during different periods and regions. Despite these variations, the name has maintained its distinct identity and continues to be associated with its English origins and rich historical legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sterley

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

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

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

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