Explore the Family Name Wakeley
The meaning of Wakeley
English: 1. habitational name from Wackley in Petton (Shrophire), and perhaps also from Wakeley in Westmill (Hertfordshire). The origin of the Shropshire placename is uncertain due to a lack of early forms, though it is probably old enough to have given rise to a surname. The Hertfordshire placename derives from the Old English personal name Waca + Old English lēah ‘woodland clearing’, and it is possible that this is also the etymology of the Shropshire placename. 2. variant of Wakerley, a habitational name from Wakerley (Northamptonshire). The placename may derive from Old English wācor ‘osier’ or perhaps wacra, genitive plural of wacor ‘watchful’, meaning ‘of the watchful ones’, + lēah ‘wood, woodland, clearing’.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Wakeley in the United States?
The surname Wakeley, based on data from the Decennial U.S. Census, has seen a slight decrease in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In the year 2000, it ranked 27,105th in popularity and fell slightly to rank 27,392nd in 2010. This constitutes a change of -1.06%. However, despite its drop in rank, the actual count of individuals with the Wakeley surname increased by 4.88%, going from 840 in 2000 to 881 in 2010. The proportion of people with this surname per 100,000 residents also decreased by 3.23%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #27,105 | #27,392 | -1.06% |
| Count | 840 | 881 | 4.88% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.31 | 0.3 | -3.23% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Wakeley
Regarding the ethnic identity associated with the Wakeley surname, the majority identify as White, according to the Decennial U.S. Census data. In 2000, 94.05% identified as White, which slightly decreased to 92.96% in 2010. Comparatively, other ethnic identities experienced changes too. The percentage of Wakeleys identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander and Black saw increases of 7.37% and 6.93% respectively. Meanwhile, those claiming Two or more races had the most significant growth at 80.37%. Interestingly, the number of Wakeleys identifying as Hispanic increased by 3.82%, while American Indian and Alaskan Native representation saw a slight decrease of 5%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 94.05% | 92.96% | -1.16% |
| Black | 2.02% | 2.16% | 6.93% |
| Two or More Races | 1.07% | 1.93% | 80.37% |
| Hispanic | 1.31% | 1.36% | 3.82% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.95% | 1.02% | 7.37% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.6% | 0.57% | -5% |