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

Thurley, 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 Thurley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Thurley in America

Thurley is the 123796th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Thurley surname appeared 139 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 Thurley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Thurley 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 Thurley

The surname Thurley originated in England, with its earliest known records dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to derive from the Old English words "thur" meaning a gap or opening, and "leah" referring to a woodland clearing or meadow. This suggests that the name's origins likely stem from a topographical description of an area where the first bearers resided or worked.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Thurley can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Bedfordshire from 1166, where a Roger de Thurleye is listed. The Pipe Rolls were a series of administrative records maintained by the English Exchequer, documenting financial transactions and tax payments.

During the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, including Thurle, Thurlegh, and Thurlei, reflecting the variations in spelling common during that period. In 1273, a Robert de Thurley is recorded in the Hundred Rolls of Buckinghamshire, a survey of landholders and their possessions.

The Thurley surname has been traced back to several locations in England, such as Thurley in Berkshire and Thurleigh in Bedfordshire. These place names likely influenced the spelling and pronunciation variations of the surname over time.

Notable individuals bearing the Thurley surname include:

1. Sir Edward Thurley (c.1530-1586), an English businessman and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
2. John Thurley (1673-1732), an English architect and garden designer, known for his work at Blenheim Palace and Edgcote House.
3. William Thurley (1778-1846), a British landscape painter and engraver, renowned for his picturesque views of English countryside and architectural subjects.
4. Simon Thurley (born 1962), an English architectural historian and former Chief Executive of English Heritage, a leading authority on historic buildings and conservation.
5. Hilary Thurley (1946-2022), a British actress and television presenter, best known for her roles in the BBC comedy series "The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin" and "Ever Decreasing Circles."

While the Thurley surname may have originated from modest beginnings, it has been carried by individuals from various walks of life throughout history, leaving an indelible mark across various fields such as politics, architecture, art, and entertainment.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Thurley

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

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

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

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