UK surname
Derived from a place name meaning "ploughed field" or "newly cultivated land" in Old English.
In the 1881 census there were 43 people recorded with the Ackerly surname, ranking it #27,575 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1, ranked #39,061, down from #27,575 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Toxteth Park, Malpas and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ackerly is 103 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 97.7%.
1881 census count
43
Ranked #27,575
Modern count
1
2016, ranked #39,061
Peak year
1851
103 bearers
Map years
1
1851 to 1851
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Ackerly surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Ackerly surname density by area, 1851 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 103 | #16,835 |
| 1861 | historical | 47 | #28,023 |
| 1881 | historical | 43 | #27,575 |
| 1891 | historical | 38 | #31,330 |
| 1901 | historical | 32 | #30,501 |
| 1911 | historical | 17 | #31,675 |
| 1997 | modern | 3 | #38,317 |
| 1998 | modern | 3 | #38,304 |
| 1999 | modern | 2 | #38,551 |
| 2000 | modern | 2 | #38,472 |
| 2001 | modern | 1 | #38,647 |
| 2002 | modern | 3 | #38,152 |
| 2003 | modern | 3 | #38,198 |
| 2004 | modern | 3 | #38,241 |
| 2005 | modern | 1 | #38,814 |
| 2006 | modern | 2 | #38,590 |
| 2007 | modern | 1 | #38,907 |
| 2008 | modern | 2 | #38,673 |
| 2011 | modern | 1 | #39,015 |
| 2012 | modern | 3 | #38,530 |
| 2013 | modern | 3 | #38,526 |
| 2014 | modern | 2 | #38,791 |
| 2015 | modern | 2 | #38,793 |
| 2016 | modern | 1 | #39,061 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Toxteth Park, Malpas, Manchester, Bolton and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toxteth Park | Lancashire |
| 2 | Malpas | Cheshire |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | Bolton | Cumberland |
| 5 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Ackerly surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Ackerly, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Ackerly surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Ackerly household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Ackerly is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Ackerly is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Ackerly, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Ackerly can be traced back to England, where it first appeared in the 13th century. It is a locational name, derived from the village of Ackerly in Buckinghamshire. The name is believed to have its origins in Old English, with "Ac" meaning "oak" and "leah" meaning "clearing" or "meadow," suggesting it referred to an oak-lined clearing or meadow.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ackerly appears in the Hundred Rolls of Buckinghamshire from 1273, where it is spelled as "Ackerl." This document lists landowners and their properties, indicating that the Ackerly family had established roots in the area by that time.
In the 14th century, the name was found in various forms, such as "Ackerley," "Ackyrley," and "Akkerley," reflecting the variations in spelling common during that era. These variations can be found in historical records like the Pipe Rolls and the Feet of Fines.
A notable early bearer of the name was John Ackerly, who was born in Buckinghamshire around 1490. He served as a member of the local militia and was mentioned in records from the reign of Henry VIII.
During the 17th century, the Ackerly family expanded their presence beyond Buckinghamshire. William Ackerly, born in 1625, was a successful merchant in London and played a role in the city's trade with the American colonies.
In the 18th century, the name Ackerly gained prominence in the literary world. Samuel Ackerly (1741-1819) was a renowned poet and playwright, whose works were widely acclaimed during his lifetime.
Another notable figure was Elizabeth Ackerly (1775-1853), a philanthropist and social reformer. She dedicated her life to improving the living conditions of the poor and established several charitable organizations in London.
As the Industrial Revolution took hold in the 19th century, the Ackerly family contributed to the growing industries. James Ackerly (1812-1887) was a successful industrialist and inventor, holding several patents for textile machinery and manufacturing processes.
While the Ackerly name has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through immigration to North America and other English-speaking countries. However, its origins can be traced back to that oak-lined clearing in Buckinghamshire, where the name first emerged centuries ago.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ackerly surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 26 Ackerlys recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.23x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 26 | 5.23x |
| Cheshire | 6 | 6.48x |
| Staffordshire | 5 | 3.53x |
| Cumberland | 3 | 8.31x |
| Devon | 1 | 1.15x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.24x |
| Sussex | 1 | 1.41x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 8 Ackerlys recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.48x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Liverpool | 8 | 26.48x |
| Rusholme | 7 | 526.32x |
| Altrincham | 5 | 308.64x |
| Stoke Upon Trent | 5 | 33.31x |
| Toxteth Park | 4 | 23.75x |
| Salford | 3 | 20.51x |
| Reddish | 2 | 289.86x |
| Wigton | 2 | 370.37x |
| Birkenhead | 1 | 13.55x |
| Brampton | 1 | 204.08x |
| Manchester | 1 | 4.47x |
| Plymouth St Andrew | 1 | 14.88x |
| Prestwich | 1 | 80.65x |
| Rotherfield | 1 | 161.29x |
| Tottenham | 1 | 14.97x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Ackerly surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Ackerly surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Ackerly households.
FAQ
In 1881, 43 people were recorded with the Ackerly surname. That placed it at #27,575 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 1 in 2016. That gives Ackerly a modern rank of #39,061.
Derived from a place name meaning "ploughed field" or "newly cultivated land" in Old English.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Ackerly bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.