Explore the Family Name Whirley
The meaning of Whirley
English: variant of Whorley.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Whirley in the United States?
Based on data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Whirley has seen a decrease in popularity over the years. In 2000, it was ranked 38,524th in terms of frequency, with approximately 540 individuals bearing the name. However, by 2010, it had dropped to the 42,790th spot despite only a slight decrease in count to 506. The proportion of people with the Whirley surname per 100,000 also declined by 15% during this period.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #38,524 | #42,790 | -11.07% |
| Count | 540 | 506 | -6.3% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.2 | 0.17 | -15% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Whirley
In terms of ethnic identity, the Whirley surname is primarily associated with individuals who identify as White, according to the Decennial U.S. Census data. In 2000, 86.48% of those with the Whirley surname identified as White, although this decreased to 82.61% by 2010. There were also shifts in other ethnic identities. In 2010, for the first time, some individuals with the Whirley surname identified as belonging to two or more races and Hispanic. During this same decade, there was a notable increase in the percentage of individuals identifying as Black, rising from 11.3% in 2000 to 14.62% in 2010. No individuals with the Whirley surname identified as Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native during these census years.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 86.48% | 82.61% | -4.48% |
| Black | 11.3% | 14.62% | 29.38% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 1.19% | 0% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 1.19% | 0% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |