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

Wheatley, 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 Wheatley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wheatley in America

Wheatley is the 2875th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wheatley surname appeared 12,520 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Wheatley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wheatley 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 Wheatley

The surname Wheatley has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "hwæte" meaning wheat, and "leah" meaning a meadow or clearing, essentially translating to "wheat meadow." This indicates that the name likely originated as a place name for a settlement or area known for its wheat cultivation.

The name can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Hwætelei" and "Watelea," referring to various locations in counties like Nottinghamshire and Gloucestershire. These early spellings demonstrate the evolution of the name over time, reflecting the changes in language and pronunciation.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Wheatley was John de Wheatley, who lived in Gloucestershire in the 13th century. Another notable figure was Sir Thomas Wheatley (c. 1535-1612), an English judge and legal writer during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

In the 17th century, the name Wheatley was associated with several prominent individuals, including Benjamin Wheatley (1602-1681), an English Puritan minister and one of the founders of the town of Stratford, Connecticut, in the American colonies. Another notable bearer was Phillis Wheatley (c. 1753-1784), an African-American poet and the first African-American author to have a book published.

The 18th century saw the rise of the Wheatley family of Yorkshire, with Charles Wheatley (1686-1742) being a renowned painter and engraver. His son, Francis Wheatley (1747-1801), also achieved fame as a portrait painter and was elected a member of the Royal Academy in 1791.

In the 19th century, the name was associated with James Wheatley (1806-1869), a British inventor and engineer who contributed significantly to the development of the modern steam engine. Another notable figure was William Wheatley (1865-1950), an English cricketer who played for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club.

The surname Wheatley has a rich history rooted in England's agricultural past and has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including writers, artists, clergymen, inventors, and sportsmen. Its enduring presence in the English-speaking world reflects the diverse contributions made by those who carried this name throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wheatley

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

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

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

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