Explore the Family Name Wadsley
The meaning of Wadsley
English: habitational name from Wadsley in Sheffield (Yorkshire), which is recorded as Wadesley and Waddesley in medieval documents. The placename derives from an Old English personal name, Wæddi (genitive Wæddes) + Old English lēah ‘woodland clearing’.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Wadsley in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Wadsley has seen a slight decrease over a decade. In 2000, it was ranked as the 108,153rd most popular surname with a count of 152. By 2010, however, its rank had fallen to 120,901st, reflecting a change of -11.79%. The count also fell to 143, a drop of -5.92%. Consequently, the proportion of individuals with the Wadsley name per 100,000 people dipped by -16.67%, from 0.06 in 2000 to 0.05 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #108,153 | #120,901 | -11.79% |
| Count | 152 | 143 | -5.92% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.06 | 0.05 | -16.67% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Wadsley
In terms of ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals that the Wadsley surname is predominantly associated with white ethnic identity. In 2000, 97.37% of those carrying the name were white, decreasing slightly to 95.80% in 2010. There were no recorded instances of the Wadsley surname amongst individuals identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander, Black, Hispanic, American Indian and Alaskan Native, or those with two or more races, both in 2000 and 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 97.37% | 95.8% | -1.61% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |