Explore the Family Name Petley
The meaning of Petley
English: habitational name from a lost place called Petley in Kent. The name survives in Petley Wood in Battle (Sussex). The placename derives from Old English pytt ‘pit, hollow’ + lēah ‘woodland clearing’.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Petley in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Petley has seen a decrease in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it ranked 93,841 in terms of popularity and dropped to 121,590 in 2010, a decline of 29.57%. During this period, the count of individuals with the surname Petley also fell from 181 to 142, representing a -21.55% change. Consequently, the proportion of people with the surname Petley per 100k dropped by 28.57%, moving from 0.07 in 2000 to 0.05 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #93,841 | #121,590 | -29.57% |
| Count | 181 | 142 | -21.55% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.07 | 0.05 | -28.57% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Petley
As for the ethnic identity associated with the surname Petley, data from the Decennial U.S. Census reveals that most bearers of the name identified as White in both 2000 and 2010. In 2000, 96.13% of Petleys were White, a figure that slightly increased to 97.18% in 2010. There was a notable decrease in those identifying as Hispanic, dropping from 3.31% in 2000 to 0% in 2010. However, it's important to note that no Petleys identified as Asian/Pacific Islander, Black or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either census year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 96.13% | 97.18% | 1.09% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Hispanic | 3.31% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |