Foley Surname
Approximately 119,017 people bear this surname
Foley Surname Definition:
An Irish surname. The New York Directory contains 227 Foleys (which are prefixed among other Irish fontal names), 7 Cornelius's, 2 Dennis's, 1 Dominick, 19 Michaels, and 22 Patricks. Mr. Lower, quoting Collins, says that 'The family of Foley have been of ancient standing in Worcestershire and some adjoining counties.
Read More About This SurnameFoley Surname Distribution Map
| Place | Incidence | Frequency | Rank in Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 71,476 | 1:5,071 | 568 |
| Ireland | 12,492 | 1:377 | 50 |
| England | 10,928 | 1:5,099 | 709 |
| Australia | 7,871 | 1:3,430 | 480 |
| Canada | 6,548 | 1:5,627 | 818 |
| Egypt | 2,136 | 1:43,041 | 4,344 |
| New Zealand | 1,268 | 1:3,571 | 556 |
| Scotland | 1,102 | 1:4,858 | 825 |
| Wales | 789 | 1:3,922 | 424 |
| South Africa | 747 | 1:72,527 | 9,038 |
| Ghana | 693 | 1:38,991 | 4,481 |
| Togo | 525 | 1:13,805 | 3,854 |
| Northern Ireland | 382 | 1:4,830 | 921 |
| Liberia | 294 | 1:14,995 | 1,566 |
| France | 261 | 1:254,493 | 39,305 |
| Thailand | 233 | 1:303,169 | 52,285 |
| Malawi | 105 | 1:163,039 | 16,499 |
| Spain | 105 | 1:445,257 | 23,393 |
| Germany | 95 | 1:847,426 | 61,310 |
| Argentina | 93 | 1:459,607 | 34,406 |
| Israel | 62 | 1:138,026 | 14,788 |
| Singapore | 60 | 1:91,795 | 3,674 |
| Switzerland | 57 | 1:144,086 | 13,875 |
| Denmark | 46 | 1:122,711 | 11,225 |
| Dominican Republic | 46 | 1:226,803 | 8,136 |
| Netherlands | 43 | 1:392,725 | 41,894 |
| Brazil | 33 | 1:6,487,101 | 155,169 |
| Qatar | 31 | 1:76,064 | 7,685 |
| Bermuda | 29 | 1:2,251 | 365 |
| Jersey | 29 | 1:3,421 | 664 |
| Nigeria | 29 | 1:6,108,371 | 148,179 |
| Peru | 28 | 1:1,135,147 | 20,057 |
| Sweden | 28 | 1:351,670 | 24,678 |
| Malaysia | 24 | 1:1,228,926 | 53,021 |
| Niger | 21 | 1:913,906 | 20,544 |
| Russia | 21 | 1:6,863,003 | 268,198 |
| Belgium | 15 | 1:766,443 | 63,354 |
| Japan | 15 | 1:8,522,953 | 44,380 |
| Philippines | 15 | 1:6,749,215 | 188,373 |
| China | 14 | 1:97,665,826 | 5,141 |
| Ecuador | 14 | 1:1,136,132 | 15,474 |
| India | 13 | 1:59,005,029 | 552,550 |
| Finland | 10 | 1:549,670 | 32,186 |
| Isle of Man | 10 | 1:8,582 | 1,778 |
| Cayman Islands | 9 | 1:7,099 | 820 |
| Czechia | 9 | 1:1,181,497 | 85,740 |
| Tunisia | 9 | 1:67,847 | 8,246 |
| United States Virgin Islands | 9 | 1:12,264 | 1,665 |
| Guam | 8 | 1:20,015 | 3,029 |
| Hungary | 8 | 1:1,227,035 | 53,030 |
| Italy | 8 | 1:7,644,586 | 115,463 |
| Norway | 7 | 1:734,612 | 50,907 |
| South Korea | 6 | 1:8,540,043 | 1,433 |
| Croatia | 5 | 1:845,721 | 48,179 |
| Hong Kong | 5 | 1:1,467,097 | 5,611 |
| Poland | 5 | 1:7,601,750 | 167,855 |
| United Arab Emirates | 5 | 1:1,832,455 | 58,414 |
| Chile | 4 | 1:4,404,118 | 44,633 |
| Kuwait | 4 | 1:950,174 | 18,811 |
| Mexico | 4 | 1:31,031,551 | 63,627 |
| Portugal | 4 | 1:2,604,560 | 16,079 |
| Colombia | 3 | 1:15,924,691 | 28,711 |
| Iceland | 3 | 1:126,697 | 5,403 |
| Romania | 3 | 1:6,692,623 | 78,504 |
| Austria | 2 | 1:4,257,718 | 99,224 |
| Greece | 2 | 1:5,539,895 | 129,142 |
| Indonesia | 2 | 1:66,124,597 | 756,638 |
| Ivory Coast | 2 | 1:11,535,616 | 61,806 |
| Jamaica | 2 | 1:1,434,974 | 11,081 |
| Lebanon | 2 | 1:2,818,542 | 25,087 |
| Luxembourg | 2 | 1:290,271 | 8,611 |
| Nepal | 2 | 1:14,240,478 | 17,812 |
| Oman | 2 | 1:1,843,986 | 9,590 |
| Turkey | 2 | 1:38,910,711 | 171,901 |
| Turks and Caicos Islands | 2 | 1:17,164 | 627 |
| Venezuela | 2 | 1:15,102,038 | 69,873 |
| Vietnam | 2 | 1:46,323,027 | 5,235 |
| Afghanistan | 1 | 1:32,153,183 | 60,828 |
| Algeria | 1 | 1:38,631,551 | 130,422 |
| Bahamas | 1 | 1:391,751 | 2,737 |
| Bahrain | 1 | 1:1,348,608 | 10,432 |
| Bangladesh | 1 | 1:159,356,773 | 26,077 |
| Barbados | 1 | 1:287,448 | 2,772 |
| Bolivia | 1 | 1:10,616,434 | 17,077 |
| Brunei | 1 | 1:418,731 | 3,893 |
| Bulgaria | 1 | 1:6,978,905 | 86,260 |
| Cyprus | 1 | 1:884,876 | 13,055 |
| Estonia | 1 | 1:1,321,804 | 40,178 |
| Georgia | 1 | 1:3,745,545 | 47,852 |
| Gibraltar | 1 | 1:33,954 | 1,660 |
| Guatemala | 1 | 1:16,082,668 | 12,169 |
| Guernsey | 1 | 1:64,439 | 2,137 |
| Guyana | 1 | 1:762,221 | 14,420 |
| Honduras | 1 | 1:8,816,442 | 9,272 |
| Iran | 1 | 1:76,782,524 | 277,718 |
| Iraq | 1 | 1:35,021,654 | 31,813 |
| Jordan | 1 | 1:8,842,437 | 26,010 |
| Kazakhstan | 1 | 1:17,682,496 | 204,010 |
| Kenya | 1 | 1:46,179,900 | 103,372 |
| Laos | 1 | 1:6,588,323 | 1,961 |
| Macau | 1 | 1:601,630 | 1,582 |
| Mauritius | 1 | 1:1,293,417 | 16,552 |
| Monaco | 1 | 1:37,066 | 4,748 |
| Panama | 1 | 1:3,912,258 | 17,195 |
| Paraguay | 1 | 1:7,236,746 | 16,511 |
| Saudi Arabia | 1 | 1:30,855,817 | 63,028 |
| Seychelles | 1 | 1:92,393 | 1,532 |
| Somalia | 1 | 1:13,452,061 | 9,224 |
| Sudan | 1 | 1:37,510,195 | 14,259 |
| Taiwan | 1 | 1:23,444,746 | 93,622 |
| Trinidad and Tobago | 1 | 1:1,363,975 | 22,013 |
| Uruguay | 1 | 1:3,431,758 | 38,295 |
| Zambia | 1 | 1:15,849,922 | 53,989 |
| Zimbabwe | 1 | 1:15,438,240 | 133,260 |
| Place | Incidence | Frequency | Rank in Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ireland | 9,095 | 1:487 | 59 |
| Place | Incidence | Frequency | Rank in Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | 3,096 | 1:7,873 | 1,205 |
| Scotland | 400 | 1:9,358 | 1,217 |
| Wales | 276 | 1:5,683 | 376 |
| Guernsey | 6 | 1:5,443 | 949 |
| Jersey | 2 | 1:25,941 | 3,069 |
| Place | Incidence | Frequency | Rank in Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 17,359 | 1:2,893 | 325 |
Foley (883) may also be a first name.
Foley Surname Meaning
From Where Does The Surname Originate? meaning and history
An Irish surname. The New York Directory contains 227 Foleys (which are prefixed among other Irish fontal names), 7 Cornelius's, 2 Dennis's, 1 Dominick, 19 Michaels, and 22 Patricks. Mr. Lower, quoting Collins, says that 'The family of Foley have been of ancient standing in Worcestershire and some adjoining counties.' This would suggest a local English origin, of which no proof is offered. Foley must be looked upon as an Irish surname, and hence has no place in this dictionary.
(Celtic) 1 the Irish O'Foghladha [cp. Irish foghlaidhe, a freebooter] 2 the Irish O'Fodhladha. (English) Dweller at the Foal-Lea [Middle English fole, Old English fola, a foal + Middle English ley, Old English leáh] There has poss. been some confusion with Foll(e)y, q.v.
Ó Foghladha A very numerous name in south Munster; to be distinguished from the English Foley.
IF 150; MIF 217
(Irish) Grandson of Foghlaidh (plunderer).
Collins says that the family have been of ancient standing in co. Worcester, and some adjoining counties. Local: place unknown.
From La Folie or Folia, near Bayeux. Robert Folie occurs in Normandy 1195; (Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae). John de Folia was a benefactor to St. Frideswide’s, Oxford (Mon. Ang. i. 175), and the gift was confirmed by Pope Adrian (Ib.). Richard de la Folie in 1165 held one fee of ancient enfeoffment in Wilts (Liber Niger). Roger de la F. held Stratton, Wilts, as one fee in 13th century (Testa de Neville). At this time Robert de la F. held lands from the See of Worcester (Ib.). In 1304 Adam, son of Guido de la F., occurs in Worcester (Roberts, Cal. Geneal.). Temp. Eliz., Richard Folly had a suit at law in the same county; and Edward Foley of the same county was ancestor of the Lords Foley. Of this family was the celebrated Richard Foley, the founder of an important branch of the iron manufacture, whose adventurous and successful career has been described by Mr. Smiles in ‘Self-Help.’ In the reign of Henry II. Theobald De Moulines confirmed to Barbarie Abbey, Normandy, the grants made by Walter, Robert, and William de la Folie, brothers (Mem. Soc. Ant. Norm. vii. 141).
From the Dutch, Fol; from the French, Folie; in the Domesday Book, Folet; personal name Folet in Rotuli de Oblatis et Finibus, King John
Foley Demographics
Average Foley Salary in
United States
$47,215 USD
Per year
Average Salary in
United States
$43,149 USD
Per year
View the highest/lowest earning families in The United States
Foley Last Name Facts
Where Does The Last Name Foley Come From? nationality or country of origin
The surname Foley (Arabic: فولى, Hassaniya-Arabic: ﻓﻮﻟﻲ, Russian: Фолей) has its highest incidence in The United States. It can appear as:. For other potential spellings of this name click here.
How Common Is The Last Name Foley? popularity and diffusion
It is the 4,739th most commonly held surname throughout the world, held by approximately 1 in 61,231 people. It occurs mostly in The Americas, where 66 percent of Foley live; 65 percent live in North America and 65 percent live in Anglo-North America. It is also the 273,612th most widespread first name on earth, held by 883 people.
Foley is most frequently held in The United States, where it is borne by 71,476 people, or 1 in 5,071. In The United States Foley is mostly concentrated in: Massachusetts, where 11 percent live, California, where 8 percent live and New York, where 8 percent live. Not including The United States this surname is found in 113 countries. It is also common in Ireland, where 10 percent live and England, where 9 percent live.
Foley Family Population Trend historical fluctuation
The prevalency of Foley has changed through the years. In The United States the number of people carrying the Foley last name rose 412 percent between 1880 and 2014; in Ireland it rose 137 percent between 1901 and 2014; in England it rose 353 percent between 1881 and 2014; in Scotland it rose 276 percent between 1881 and 2014 and in Wales it rose 286 percent between 1881 and 2014.
Foley Last Name Statistics demography
The religious adherence of those carrying the Foley surname is principally Catholic (98%) in Ireland.
In The United States those holding the Foley surname are 1.27% more likely to be registered Democrats than the national average, with 51.96% registered with the party.
The amount Foley earn in different countries varies greatly. In Norway they earn 23.17% less than the national average, earning 265,910 kr per year; in Peru they earn 188.48% more than the national average, earning S/. 55,922 per year; in South Africa they earn 72.41% more than the national average, earning R 409,716 per year; in United States they earn 9.42% more than the national average, earning $47,215 USD per year and in Canada they earn 0.03% more than the national average, earning $49,696 CAD per year.
Phonetically Similar Names
Foley Name Transliterations
| Transliteration | ICU Latin | Percentage of Incidence |
|---|---|---|
| Foley in the Hassaniya-Arabic language | ||
| ﻓﻮﻟﻲ | fwly | 87.5 |
| ﻓﻠﻲ | fly | 12.5 |
| Foley in the Russian language | ||
| Фолей | folej | - |
| Foley in the Arabic language | ||
| فولى | fwly | - |
| فولي | fwly | - |
Search for Another Surname
Foley Reference & Research
Foley DNA Website - A web page dedicated to the genetic research of those who bear the surname and its variants.
Foley FamilyTree DNA Project - A description of a group researching the paternal lines of men who bear the surname with the help of DNA analysis.
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Footnotes
- Surnames are taken as the first part of an person's inherited family name, caste, clan name or in some cases patronymic
- Descriptions may contain details on the name's etymology, origin, ethnicity and history. They are largely reproduced from 3rd party sources; diligence is advised on accepting their validity - more information
- Name distribution statistics are generated from a global database of over 4 billion people - more information
- Heatmap: Dark red means there is a higher occurrence of the name, transitioning to light yellow signifies a progressively lower occurrence. Clicking on selected countries will show mapping at a regional level
- Rank: Name are ranked by incidence using the ordinal ranking method; the name that occurs the most is assigned a rank of 1; name that occur less frequently receive an incremented rank; if two or more name occur the same number of times they are assigned the same rank and successive rank is incremented by the total preceeding names
- Ethnic group cannot necessarily be determined by geographic occurrence
- Similar: Names listed in the "Similar" section are phonetically similar and may not have any relation to Foley
- To find out more about this surname's family history, lookup records on FamilySearch, MyHeritage, FindMyPast and Ancestry. Further information may be obtained by DNA analysis