Explore the Family Name Highley
The meaning of Highley
English (Yorkshire and Lancashire): habitational name from High Lee in Luddenden Foot (Yorkshire). This is the main source of the name, although in some instances the source may be another place of similar name, such as High Legh (Cheshire). The Yorkshire placename probably derives from Old English hygel ‘hillock’ + lēah ‘woodland clearing’, while the Cheshire placename derives from Old English lēah, with later addition of Middle English heigh ‘high’.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Highley in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Highley saw a drop in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Highley ranked 15,327th in terms of surnames in the US, but by 2010, it had dropped to 17,572nd, a decrease of 14.65%. The number of individuals carrying the Highley surname also decreased from 1,760 in 2000 to 1,600 in 2010, marking a reduction of 9.09%. Proportionally, for every 100,000 people in the US, the presence of the surname Highley decreased from 0.65 in 2000 to 0.54 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #15,327 | #17,572 | -14.65% |
| Count | 1,760 | 1,600 | -9.09% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.65 | 0.54 | -16.92% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Highley
The ethnic identity associated with the surname Highley has also seen some shifts between 2000 and 2010 according to the Decennial U.S. Census data. While the majority of people with the surname Highley identified as White in both years (92.73% in 2000 and 90.25% in 2010), there was a small decrease of 2.67% over this period. Interestingly, those identifying as two or more races saw a significant increase from 1.02% in 2000 to 3.06% in 2010. There were slight increases within the Hispanic and Black communities, 40.00% and 12.55% respectively. The percentage of those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander and American Indian and Alaskan Native decreased slightly.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 92.73% | 90.25% | -2.67% |
| Two or More Races | 1.02% | 3.06% | 200% |
| Black | 2.39% | 2.69% | 12.55% |
| Hispanic | 1.65% | 2.31% | 40% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 1.02% | 0.94% | -7.84% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 1.19% | 0.75% | -36.97% |