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

Werley, 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 Werley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Werley in America

Werley is the 24112th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Werley surname appeared 1,044 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 Werley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Werley 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 Werley

The surname "WERLEY" is believed to have originated in Germany, with its earliest known records dating back to the 16th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Old German word "wer," meaning "man" or "warrior," and the suffix "-ley," which was commonly used to denote a place or location.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the town of Werley, located in the state of Lower Saxony, Germany. This town's name is believed to have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time. Some variations of the name, such as "Werleigh" and "Werligh," were also prevalent in certain regions during the Middle Ages.

In the late 17th century, a notable figure named Johann Werley (1642-1719) was a prominent theologian and philosopher who taught at the University of Jena in Thuringia, Germany. His writings on ethics and moral philosophy were widely respected during his lifetime and contributed to the broader recognition of the Werley name across Europe.

Another noteworthy individual bearing the surname was Friedrich Werley (1781-1853), a German botanist and naturalist who made significant contributions to the study of plant taxonomy. His extensive collection of preserved plant specimens is still housed in various natural history museums across Germany.

In the realm of literature, the name gained recognition through the works of the German author and poet, Wilhelm Werley (1822-1891). His poetic works, often centered around themes of nature and the pastoral life, were widely acclaimed in the 19th century and helped establish the Werley name within the literary circles of that era.

As the name spread beyond Germany, it also found its way into other European countries. In the late 18th century, a French military officer named Pierre Werley (1756-1824) gained prominence for his role in the Napoleonic Wars, where he served as a cavalry commander and was awarded several honors for his bravery and leadership on the battlefield.

While the surname "WERLEY" has maintained a presence throughout various historical periods and regions, its origins can be traced back to the German heartland, where it first emerged as a surname with strong ties to the local geography and cultural heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Werley

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

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

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

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