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

Wormley, 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 Wormley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wormley in America

Wormley is the 21119th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wormley surname appeared 1,243 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 Wormley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wormley 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 Wormley

The surname Wormley has its origins in England, specifically traced back to the Yorkshire region. The etymology of the name is deeply rooted in Old English and can be correlated to the place name Wormley, which means "a clearing or meadow by a warm stream." This interpretation comes from the Old English words "wyrm," meaning stream or serpent, and "leah," meaning clearing or meadow.

The earliest recordings of the surname Wormley date back to medieval England, with records indicating its presence from the 12th century onwards. One of the earliest documented references is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, although in this instance, the reference was to the place rather than the family. The village of Wormley in Hertfordshire is a notable reference point and shares a similar origin with the surname.

One historical figure bearing the surname Wormley is Sir John Wormley, a knight who lived during the 15th century. He was born around 1412 and is noted in historic English records for his service to the crown. Another early instance is Robert de Wormley, hailing from the 13th century, whose family held lands in Yorkshire and contributed to the local feudal economy.

In the 16th century, the name appears in various tax records and legal documents. Alice Wormley, born in 1534, is one example; she was recorded in parish registers in Yorkshire, where the family had substantial holdings. The Worcestershire archives also document a John Wormlie in the early 1500s, suggesting the name's spread and establishment beyond its Yorkshire roots.

The Wormley name reached the New World in the 17th century with figures such as Ralph Wormley, born in 1620, who emigrated to Virginia. He became a prominent landowner and political figure, contributing significantly to the early colonial governance. His son, Ralph Wormley II, born in 1650, further cemented the family’s influential status in American colonial society.

Finally, another notable individual is James Wormley, born in 1819, an African American businessman who became well-known in Washington, D.C. He founded the Wormley Hotel, which became famous in the late 19th century as a high-end establishment and a significant location for political discussions, including the Compromise of 1877.

The Wormley name holds a rich historical significance, with its origins in England and a legacy that spans across centuries and continents.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wormley

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

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

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

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