Explore the Family Name Pedley
The meaning of Pedley
English: habitational name from Pedley in Prestbury (Cheshire), Pedley Wood in Clophill (Bedfordshire), Pidley, part of Pidley cum Fenton (Huntingdonshire), or Pedley Barton, in East Worlington (Devon). The Cheshire placename derives from the Old English personal name Pēoda or Pedda, Pædda + Old English lēah ‘woodland clearing’. The Bedfordshire and Devon placename probably derives from an Old English personal name Pydda + lēah. The Huntingdonshire placename may have the same etymology as the Bedfordshire placename, or may alternatively derive from Old English pidele ‘fen, marshland’.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Pedley in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Pedley ranked 32,823 in popularity in 2000 and slightly fell to 32,865 by 2010, marking a modest decrease of 0.13%. Despite this drop in rank, the actual count of individuals carrying the Pedley surname rose from 659 to 698 during the same period, indicating an increase of 5.92%. The proportion per 100,000 people remained stable at 0.24 over the ten years.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #32,823 | #32,865 | -0.13% |
| Count | 659 | 698 | 5.92% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.24 | 0.24 | 0% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Pedley
In regards to ethnicity, data from the Decennial U.S. Census shows that the majority of individuals with the Pedley surname identified as White, although there was a small decrease from 96.05% in 2000 to 92.41% in 2010. There were no recorded individuals of Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native descent during either census year. However, the percentage identifying as Hispanic and Black saw significant increases. The Hispanic representation nearly doubled from 1.37% to 2.58%, and the Black representation grew from 1.97% to 3.58%. Additionally, 2010 marked the first census year where some individuals with the Pedley surname identified with two or more races.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 96.05% | 92.41% | -3.79% |
| Black | 1.97% | 3.58% | 81.73% |
| Hispanic | 1.37% | 2.58% | 88.32% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 1.15% | 0% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |