Explore the Family Name Wheeley
The meaning of Wheeley
English: habitational name from Weoley Castle in Northfield (Worcestershire), named with Old English wēoh ‘(pre-Christian) temple, idol, shrine’ + lēah ‘wood, woodland clearing’.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Wheeley in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Wheeley has seen a decline between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it was ranked 55,732 with 344 individuals bearing the name. However, by 2010, the rank had dropped to 72,568 and the count had reduced to 268, representing a decrease of 30.21% in rank and 22.09% in count. The proportion of people with the Wheeley surname per 100,000 also fell by 30.77% over this decade.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #55,732 | #72,568 | -30.21% |
| Count | 344 | 268 | -22.09% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.13 | 0.09 | -30.77% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Wheeley
According to the ethnic identity data from the Decennial U.S. Census, there has been some shift in the ethnic backgrounds associated with the Wheeley surname between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, 92.73% identified as White, 2.33% as Asian/Pacific Islander, 2.33% as Black, and 1.74% reported having two or more races. By 2010, there was an increase among individuals identifying as White to 96.64%. However, there was a significant decrease to zero among those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander and Black. Data for Hispanic and American Indian/Alaskan Native ethnicities were either not available or suppressed for privacy (marked as "S") in both years.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 92.73% | 96.64% | 4.22% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 2.33% | 0% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 1.74% | 0% | 0% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 2.33% | 0% | -100% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |