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

Thomley, 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 Thomley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Thomley in America

Thomley is the 31285th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Thomley surname appeared 741 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 Thomley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Thomley 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 Thomley

The surname Thomley is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated from a place name, possibly derived from the Old English words "tun" meaning town or settlement, and "ley" meaning a meadow or clearing. This suggests that the name may have referred to someone who resided in a town or settlement situated near a meadow or clearing.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Northamptonshire in 1196, where it appears as "de Thomlega." This entry suggests that the name was already well-established by the late 12th century. It is also possible that the name may have been influenced by Norman-French spelling conventions, as the region was under Norman rule at the time.

In the 14th century, the name appears in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire as "Thomle," indicating a more simplified spelling. This variation highlights the fluidity of surnames during this period, as they were often adapted based on regional dialects and scribal interpretations.

One notable bearer of the surname was John Thomley, a merchant and alderman in the city of London during the late 16th century. He was involved in the lucrative wool trade and served as a member of the Court of Aldermen, a prestigious governing body in the city.

Another historical figure with the Thomley surname was William Thomley, a member of the English Parliament who represented the borough of Brackley in Northamptonshire during the 17th century. Records indicate that he served in the parliament convened by Oliver Cromwell in 1656.

In the 18th century, the name appears in parish records from the village of Weston-under-Lizard in Staffordshire, where a family by the name of Thomley resided. This suggests that the name had spread across various regions of England by this time.

During the 19th century, a notable bearer of the Thomley surname was Robert Thomley, a prominent industrialist and entrepreneur from Manchester. He founded the Thomley Textile Mills, which played a significant role in the city's thriving textile industry.

Another individual of note was Elizabeth Thomley, a pioneering educator who established one of the first schools for girls in London in the early 19th century. Her efforts in promoting women's education were groundbreaking for the time.

While the surname Thomley is not among the most common in England, it has a rich history that spans several centuries and has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, from merchants and politicians to industrialists and educators.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Thomley

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

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

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

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