Explore the Family Name Paley
The meaning of Paley
1. English (mainly Yorkshire): from a lost or unidentified place in Lancashire or Yorkshire, apparently named with Old English lēah ‘woodland clearing’ as the final element. Compare Paley Green in Giggleswick (Yorkshire), where the surname is recorded in 1379, but this may have been named from the surname. 2. English: perhaps from a presumed Middle English male personal name Palli (Old Danish Palli, from páll ‘pole’). 3. English: sometimes a variant of Pawley. 4. Jewish (from Belarus), Belorussian, and Ukrainian: occupational name for a distiller, derived from an East Slavic word meaning ‘to burn’ (Russian palit, Ukrainian palyty). Some characteristic forenames: Jewish Dror, Yakov, Hyman, Yitzchok, Zalmon.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Paley in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Paley ranked 17,122 in 2000 and slipped to 18,401 in 2010, marking a decrease in popularity of 7.47%. The number of individuals bearing this surname also saw a slight decline from 1,529 in 2000 down to 1,505 in 2010, signifying a drop of 1.57%. Additionally, the proportion per 100,000 people fell from 0.57 in 2000 to 0.51 in 2010, which reflects a decrease of 10.53%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #17,122 | #18,401 | -7.47% |
| Count | 1,529 | 1,505 | -1.57% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.57 | 0.51 | -10.53% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Paley
In terms of ethnicity breakdown based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the majority of those with the surname Paley identified as White, with percentages at 89.73% in 2000 and slightly decreasing to 89.50% in 2010. The next largest ethnic group, Black, remained fairly consistent over the decade with 6.02% in 2000 and 6.05% in 2010. Those identifying as Hispanic showed a small increase of 1.39%, moving from 2.88% in 2000 to 2.92% in 2010. The count for those identifying as two or more races decreased by 27.93%, shrinking from 1.11% in 2000 to 0.80% in 2010. There were no individuals who identified as Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 89.73% | 89.5% | -0.26% |
| Black | 6.02% | 6.05% | 0.5% |
| Hispanic | 2.88% | 2.92% | 1.39% |
| Two or More Races | 1.11% | 0.8% | -27.93% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |