Stokley
Derived from a place name meaning "clearing with tree stumps" in Old English.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,571 Americans carry the last name Stokley. That puts it at #13,682 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.75 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 133,316 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Stokley 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
2.6K
1 in 133,316
Census rank
#13,682
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.8
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.2K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 2,213 bearers of the surname Stokley in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.75 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 13682nd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Stokley, the largest self-reported group is White at 72.5%. The next largest groups are Black (22.7%) and Hispanic (2.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Stokley
The surname Stokley is believed to have originated in England, specifically in the county of Northamptonshire. It dates back to the 13th century and is derived from the Old English words "stoc" meaning a farm or hamlet, and "leah" meaning a woodland clearing or meadow.
Stokley is a locational surname, indicating that the earliest bearers of this name likely hailed from a small settlement or village called Stokley, which no longer exists as a distinct place. However, variations of this place name can be found in several locations across England, such as Stockley Pomeroy in Devon and Stockley Park in Middlesex.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Stokley can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, which mentions a Robert de Stokley. The Hundred Rolls were a series of administrative records compiled in England during the reign of King Edward I.
In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, including Stokele, Stokkeley, and Stoklegh, reflecting the variations in spelling that were common during that era. These different spellings can be found in medieval records such as the Subsidy Rolls of Gloucestershire and the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Warwickshire.
One notable bearer of the name Stokley was Sir John Stokley (c. 1400-1470), a member of the gentry from Gloucestershire who served as a Member of Parliament during the Wars of the Roses. Another prominent individual with this surname was Thomas Stokley (c. 1505-1578), an English Catholic priest and martyr who was executed during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I for his religious beliefs.
In the 17th century, the Stokley surname gained recognition through the work of Sir Thomas Stokley (1621-1683), a renowned English architect who designed several notable buildings, including the Royal Naval Hospital in Greenwich.
Another significant figure was William Stokley (1755-1835), an English clergyman and author who served as the Archdeacon of Surrey and published several works on theology and church history.
Lastly, one cannot overlook John Stokley Littleton (1786-1857), an English lawyer and scholar who made significant contributions to the study of ancient laws and legal history, particularly through his work "The History of the Law of Tenures."
While the Stokley surname may not be as common as some other English surnames, it has a rich history that can be traced back to the medieval period and has been borne by individuals who have made their mark in various fields throughout the centuries.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Stokley
Among Census respondents with the surname Stokley, the largest self-reported group is White at 72.5%. The next largest groups are Black (22.7%) and Hispanic (2.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Stokley 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 Stokley surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White72.5%
- Black or African American22.7%
- Hispanic or Latino2.4%
- Two or more races1.4%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.6%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.4%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Stokley 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 | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #13,682 | #13,682 | 0.0% |
| Count | 2,213 | 2,213 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.75 | 0.75 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Stokley bearers went from 2,213 to 2,213 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #13,682 to #13,682.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Stokley
FAQ
Stokley surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Stokley?
The surname Stokley holds position #13,682 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 2,571 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.75 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Stokley surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Stokley, the largest self-reported group is White at 72.5%. The next largest groups are Black (22.7%) and Hispanic (2.4%). 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.