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

Wormely, 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 Wormely surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wormely in America

Wormely is the 101737th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wormely surname appeared 177 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 Wormely.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wormely 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 Wormely

The surname Wormely has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. The name is topographical and is believed to be derived from the Old English elements "wyrm" meaning snake or dragon, and "leah" meaning a wood or clearing. Together, the elements suggest a meaning akin to "snake-infested clearing" or "dragon's wood."

The area historically associated with the surname is likely to be Wormley in Hertfordshire, England. Variations in spelling over the centuries include Wormle, Wormly, and Warmle. The name appears in old records and manuscripts, indicating that it held some significance during these times. One of the earliest references to the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where similar spellings are documented.

In terms of historical references, one early record is of a John de Wormeley who was mentioned in the Feet of Fines for Yorkshire in 1304. Another significant appearance is that of Richard de Wormeley, who was recorded in 1379 in the Poll Tax Returns for Yorkshire. These records suggest that the name had spread from its initial origins in Hertfordshire to other parts of England.

One notable person bearing this surname was Ralph Wormley, born in 1610, who became a prominent figure in colonial Virginia. He was a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses and held various other important positions. Another significant individual was Ralph Wormeley IV, born in 1715 and died in 1790, who was also an influential figure in colonial Virginia, serving as the Secretary of State for the colony.

An early example in American history is Ralph Wormely, born circa 1620, who migrated from England to Virginia and established the Wormley Creek estate in York County. The lineage continued with notable descendants like Elizabeth Wormely Latimer, an American author born in 1822, who contributed to literature and history.

Throughout the centuries, the surname has been borne by individuals who contributed to history in various ways, showing its deep-rooted heritage and the families' movement from England to the New World. As with many old English surnames, the name Wormely encapsulates a rich history, blending topographical origins with the spread and influence of its bearers.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wormely

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

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

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

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