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

Wheatly, 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 Wheatly surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wheatly in America

Wheatly is the 68949th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wheatly surname appeared 285 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 Wheatly.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wheatly 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 Wheatly

The surname Wheatly originates from England, with its roots tracing back to Old English. It is derived from the words "hwæte," meaning wheat, and "lēah," meaning a clearing or meadow. This combination suggests that the name was originally used to denote individuals who lived near or worked in wheat fields or clearings.

The areas where Wheatly likely originated were heavily agricultural regions where wheat farming was common. Places like Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, known for their fertile lands, may have been early centers for the surname's genesis. Historical documents from the medieval period, such as the Domesday Book of 1086, contain similar entries to the name, showcasing its antiquity and geographical spread.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname can be found in parish records from the late 13th century. A Roger de Whetley was documented in Yorkshire around 1296, indicating the name was well-established by this time. Over the centuries, variations in spelling occurred, including Whetley, Wheatley, and Wheatleigh, reflecting regional dialects and phonetic interpretations.

Throughout history, various individuals bearing the surname Wheatly have made notable contributions. John Wheatly, born in 1562, served as a Member of Parliament in England. Another early figure, Richard Wheatly, born in 1615, was a prominent landowner in Kent, showcasing the name's association with agricultural and landed interests.

In the 18th century, James Wheatly, born in 1738, became known for his involvement in the industrialization of Yorkshire, contributing to developments in milling technology. Moving to the 19th century, James Wheatly’s descendant, William Wheatly, born in 1819, continued the family tradition in agriculture but also dabbled in social reform, advocating for better working conditions for farm laborers. Another notable figure, Thomas Wheatly, born in 1848, was recognized for his work in civil engineering, contributing to the development of the British railway system.

The Wheatly name has thus seen a varied and illustrious history, deeply tied to the agrarian landscapes of medieval England and evolving through the centuries into modern times, with its bearers contributing to various fields including politics, agriculture, and engineering.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wheatly

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

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

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

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