Explore the Family Name Onley
The meaning of Onley
English: habitational name from any of the places called Onley in Barby and in Silverstone (both in Northamptonshire), or Onneley in Madeley (Staffordshire). Olney in Silverstone and Onneley in Madeley probably derive from Old English ān(a) ‘one, single, solitary’ + lēah ‘woodland clearing’. Onley in Barby may have the same etymological origin, but may also derive from the Old English personal name Ona + Old English lēah.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Onley in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Onley has seen a slight decline in popularity over a decade. In 2000, it ranked 27,618 and fell to 28,998 by 2010, showing a 5% decrease. The number of individuals bearing this surname also slightly decreased from 821 in 2000 to 819 in 2010, marking a drop of 0.24%. It's worth noting that the proportion per 100,000 also saw a minor decrease of 6.67%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #27,618 | #28,998 | -5% |
| Count | 821 | 819 | -0.24% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.3 | 0.28 | -6.67% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Onley
As for the ethnic identity associated with the surname Onley, according to the Decennial U.S. Census, there were some shifts between 2000 and 2010. The percentage of individuals identifying as White decreased by about 8% from 57.86% to 53.24%. Meanwhile, those identifying as Black increased from 37.27% to 40.05%, demonstrating a rise of 7.46%. Individuals identifying with two or more ethnicities also saw an increase of 7.37%. The most significant change was observed in the Hispanic category which showed a massive jump of 240.98%, albeit from a small base of 0.61% in 2000 to 2.08% in 2010. There were no individuals identified as Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 57.86% | 53.24% | -7.98% |
| Black | 37.27% | 40.05% | 7.46% |
| Two or More Races | 3.53% | 3.79% | 7.37% |
| Hispanic | 0.61% | 2.08% | 240.98% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |