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

Valley, 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 Valley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Valley in America

Valley is the 7402nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Valley surname appeared 4,497 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Valley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Valley 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 Valley

The surname Valley is of English origin and can be traced back to the Middle Ages. It is a locational name, derived from the Old English word "valley" or "valleye," which refers to a low area of land between hills or mountains. This name was given to people who lived in or near a valley.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Valley can be found in the Domesday Book, a survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears as "de Valeia," reflecting the French influence on English at that time.

During the 13th century, the surname began to appear in its modern spelling, "Valley." Historical records from this period show various spellings, such as "Valleye," "Valey," and "Valeye," reflecting the evolution of the English language.

The surname Valley was particularly prevalent in the counties of Gloucestershire, Somerset, and Wiltshire, where many valleys and low-lying areas were found. Some notable figures with this surname include:

1. John Valley (c. 1530-1592), an English composer and organist who served at the Chapel Royal during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
2. George Valley (1693-1767), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works.
3. William Valley (1796-1859), a British politician and Member of Parliament for Southampton.
4. Thomas Valley (1801-1876), an English artist and painter known for his landscapes and seascapes.
5. Henry Valley (1838-1922), a British engineer and inventor who patented several important innovations in the field of steam engines.

The surname Valley has also been associated with various place names, such as Valley End in Berkshire, Valley Road in London, and Valley Park in Hampshire, further reinforcing its geographical origins.

Throughout history, the surname Valley has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including artists, politicians, clergymen, and engineers. Its enduring presence in English records reflects the significance of valleys in the country's landscape and the lasting influence of Old English on the development of modern surnames.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Valley

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

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

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

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