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

Worley, 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 Worley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Worley in America

Worley is the 1370th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Worley surname appeared 25,758 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 9 people would have the surname Worley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Worley 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 Worley

The surname Worley is believed to have originated in England, with its roots dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "worl," which means "mound" or "small hill." This suggests that the name may have been initially used to describe someone who lived on or near a small hill or raised ground.

The earliest known record of the name Worley can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and properties in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name was documented as "Worlay" and referred to a location or settlement near the present-day county of Derbyshire.

Over the centuries, the name has undergone various spelling variations, including Worley, Worleigh, Worlie, and Wourley. These variations can be attributed to regional dialects, scribal errors, and the lack of standardized spelling practices in earlier times.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Worley was John Worley, who was born in Gloucestershire, England, around 1525. He was a prominent landowner and served as a local magistrate during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another notable figure in history was Sir Robert Worley (1592-1669), an English diplomat and politician who served as the ambassador to the Netherlands during the Commonwealth period. He played a significant role in negotiating treaties and maintaining diplomatic relations between England and the Dutch Republic.

In the 18th century, Thomas Worley (1709-1781) was a renowned clockmaker from Nottingham, England. His timepieces were highly valued for their craftsmanship and precision, and some of his clocks are still preserved in museums and private collections today.

Moving into the 19th century, we find Mary Worley (1817-1895), a British author and activist who wrote extensively on women's rights and education. Her works, such as "The Rights and Wrongs of Women" and "Thoughts on the Education of Girls," were influential in advocating for gender equality and educational opportunities for women.

Another notable figure was John Worley (1865-1941), a British architect who designed several iconic buildings in London, including the Royal Opera House and the Savoy Hotel. His architectural style was heavily influenced by the Baroque and Renaissance periods, and his works are considered significant contributions to the cityscape of London.

While the Worley surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including North America, Australia, and New Zealand, as a result of migration and emigration patterns over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Worley

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

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

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

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