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

Velie, 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 Velie surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Velie in America

Velie is the 36154th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Velie surname appeared 620 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 Velie.

We can also compare 2010 data for Velie 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 Velie

The surname VELIE is of French origin, with its roots tracing back to the medieval period in the region of Normandy. The name is derived from the Old French word "veillier," meaning "to watch" or "to guard," suggesting that the original bearers of this surname may have been sentries or night watchmen.

In the 11th century, the name VELIE appears in historical records, particularly in the famous Domesday Book of 1086, which documented landowners and their properties across England following the Norman Conquest. This suggests that individuals bearing this surname likely accompanied William the Conqueror's Norman invaders and settled in England.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname VELIE was Robert de Velie, a Norman knight who fought alongside William the Conqueror during the Battle of Hastings in 1066. His descendants continued to use the surname, and it spread throughout various regions of England.

Another notable figure was Sir John VELIE, a prominent English landowner and knight who lived in the 13th century. He was documented as holding significant estates in the counties of Wiltshire and Dorset, showcasing the family's influence during that era.

In the 16th century, the surname VELIE appeared in various spellings, including Veley, Vely, and Vealy, reflecting regional variations in pronunciation and spelling practices. One prominent individual from this period was Thomas VELIE, a renowned merchant and trader who established successful businesses in London and Bristol.

The 17th century saw the emergence of William VELIE, a respected scholar and theologian who authored several influential works on religious philosophy. Born in 1620 in Oxfordshire, he later became a fellow at Oxford University and contributed significantly to the intellectual discourse of his time.

In the 19th century, the VELIE surname gained further prominence through the accomplishments of Charles VELIE, a celebrated inventor and engineer. Born in 1853 in Massachusetts, he patented numerous innovations in the field of automotive engineering and played a crucial role in the early development of the automobile industry.

Throughout its long history, the surname VELIE has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including knights, landowners, merchants, scholars, and inventors, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of those who have carried this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Velie

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

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

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

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