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

Wyly, 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 Wyly surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wyly in America

Wyly is the 41728th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wyly surname appeared 521 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 Wyly.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wyly 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 Wyly

The surname Wyly traces its origins back to medieval England, specifically to the Anglo-Saxon period. The name is believed to have originated in the southwestern counties of Wiltshire and Somerset. One of the earliest derivations of the name Wyly can be traced back to a place name—Wylye, a village in Wiltshire, England. The village's name itself is derived from the Old English "Wilig," which means willow tree, emphasizing the geographical characteristics of the area.

In historical documents, the Wyly surname appears early on in the form of place names and land records. Wylye village is documented in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is referred to as 'Wilgi'. This connection to a specific location is a common origin for many surnames in medieval England, as individuals were often identified with reference to where they lived or owned land.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname are found in parish registers, tax records, and legal documents from the 12th and 13th centuries. One such individual is Henry de Wylye, mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Somerset in 1194. This indicates that the family name was well established by the late 12th century. Another early figure is Thomas de Wylye, noted in the Assize Rolls of Wiltshire in 1249, reinforcing the geographical ties to the region.

Throughout history, the spelling of Wyly has shown some variations. Records show it as Wylie or Wyley in different periods and localities. Nevertheless, these variations are relatively minimal, signifying a stable linguistic evolution over centuries. Some distinguished bearers of the Wyly surname include Sir Richard Wyly, a knight during the reign of King Edward III in the 14th century. He is believed to have been born around 1320 and was known for his service in the Hundred Years' War.

In the 16th century, John Wyly of Wiltshire appears in local tax records, born around 1540. His presence in governmental records highlights the family's establishment within local governance and agriculture. Moving forward, another notable figure is Samuel Wyly, who was born in 1680 and became known for his contributions to early cartography in England, drawing maps of the Wiltshire region.

George Wyly, born in 1730, migrated to America and settled in Virginia, playing a significant role in the early colonial administration. His descendants are believed to have spread the surname across the United States, which explains the present-day occurrence of the name in various states.

Each of these figures highlights the enduring legacy of the Wyly surname, from its origins in medieval England to its spread across the Atlantic. Their contributions, whether in service, governance, or exploration, have left an indelible mark on the historical footprint of the name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wyly

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

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

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

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