NameCensus.

UK surname

Addley

Derived from a place name meaning "Eadda's clearing" in Old English, referring to a person who lived there.

In the 1881 census there were 86 people recorded with the Addley surname, ranking it #21,449 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 194, ranked #19,976, up from #21,449 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ash-near-Sandwich, Chislett and Herne (incl. Herne Bay Chapelry). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rochford, South Cambridgeshire and Fenland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Addley is 202 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 125.6%.

1881 census count

86

Ranked #21,449

Modern count

194

2016, ranked #19,976

Peak year

2010

202 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Addley had 86 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #21,449 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 194 in 2016, ranked #19,976.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 131 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Addley surname distribution map

The map shows where the Addley surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Addley surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Addley over time

The 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 64 #21,914
1861 historical 75 #24,238
1881 historical 86 #21,449
1891 historical 95 #24,694
1901 historical 114 #21,166
1911 historical 131 #19,404
1997 modern 186 #18,448
1998 modern 192 #18,561
1999 modern 190 #18,797
2000 modern 190 #18,806
2001 modern 188 #18,652
2002 modern 200 #18,294
2003 modern 189 #18,738
2004 modern 196 #18,438
2005 modern 201 #18,080
2006 modern 194 #18,627
2007 modern 188 #19,204
2008 modern 186 #19,524
2009 modern 191 #19,592
2010 modern 202 #19,322
2011 modern 193 #19,729
2012 modern 185 #20,223
2013 modern 194 #19,932
2014 modern 197 #19,903
2015 modern 198 #19,714
2016 modern 194 #19,976

Geography

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Where Addleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ash-near-Sandwich, Chislett, Herne (incl. Herne Bay Chapelry), London parishes and Adisham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rochford, South Cambridgeshire, Fenland, South Holland and Tandridge. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Ash-near-Sandwich Kent
2 Chislett Kent
3 Herne (incl. Herne Bay Chapelry) Kent
4 London parishes London 3
5 Adisham Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rochford 010 Rochford
2 South Cambridgeshire 016 South Cambridgeshire
3 Fenland 002 Fenland
4 South Holland 008 South Holland
5 Tandridge 006 Tandridge

Forenames

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First names often paired with Addley

These lists show first names that appear often with the Addley surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Addley

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Addley, 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

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Addley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Addley household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Addley is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Addley is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Addley falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Addley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Addley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Addley

The surname Addley is of English origin, with its roots traced back to the 13th century in the county of Lancashire. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "æt" meaning "at" and "leah" meaning "a clearing in a forest or woodland." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near or resided in a small woodland clearing.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Addley can be found in the Lancashire Pipe Rolls of 1246, where it appears as "Adam de Addelegh." This spelling variation, along with others such as "Addelay" and "Addelee," continued to be used until the 16th century when the modern spelling of "Addley" became more standardized.

The Addley surname has a strong connection to the village of Adlington, located in the borough of Chorley, Lancashire. It is believed that the name Adlington itself was derived from the same Old English words that gave rise to the Addley surname, further strengthening the link between the name and the region.

In the 14th century, a notable figure named John Addley was recorded as a landowner in the nearby town of Rivington. His son, Thomas Addley, born in 1384, became a prominent figure in the local community and was involved in various legal disputes over land ownership.

During the 16th century, the Addley family gained prominence in the region, with several members holding positions of authority and influence. One such individual was William Addley, born in 1521, who served as a magistrate and played a significant role in the local administration.

Another notable figure was Elizabeth Addley, born in 1678, who was a renowned herbalist and healer in the village of Adlington. Her knowledge of medicinal plants and traditional remedies was widely respected, and she is credited with helping numerous individuals during her lifetime.

As the centuries progressed, the Addley surname spread beyond Lancashire to other parts of England and even overseas. One prominent individual was Sir John Addley, born in 1792, who served as a British diplomat and was stationed in various countries throughout his career.

Despite its relatively uncommon nature, the surname Addley has left an indelible mark on the history and culture of Lancashire, with its origins deeply rooted in the region's landscapes and communities.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Addley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Addley surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Kent leads with 53 Addleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.52x.

County Total Index
Kent 53 18.52x
Middlesex 10 1.19x
Lancashire 7 0.70x
Surrey 5 1.22x
Yorkshire 4 0.48x
Angus 3 3.86x
Cumberland 1 1.38x
Hampshire 1 0.58x
Herefordshire 1 2.91x
Norfolk 1 0.78x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Chislet in Kent leads with 13 Addleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4062.50x.

Place Total Index
Chislet 13 4062.50x
Minster In Thanet 8 1333.33x
Herne 7 551.18x
Toxteth Park 6 17.80x
Canterbury St Mary 5 260.42x
Mile End Old Town London 5 28.01x
Westbere 5 7142.86x
Wingham 5 1515.15x
St Martin In Fields 4 79.68x
Adisham 3 2307.69x
Arbroath 3 116.73x
Brotton 3 277.78x
Coulsdon 3 405.41x
Sandwich St Peter 3 1000.00x
Aldershot 1 17.36x
Byfleet 1 277.78x
Canterbury St George 1 294.12x
Chartham 1 140.85x
Guisbrough 1 54.95x
Halling 1 270.27x
Harrow On The Hill 1 59.52x
Kirkdale 1 5.97x
Lambeth 1 1.37x
Moreton Jeffries 1 10000.00x
Norwich St Stephen 1 84.75x
Papcastle 1 500.00x
St Pauls Cray 1 454.55x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Addley surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Elizabeth 3
Ellen 3
Mary 3
Ada 2
Annie 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Jane 2
Louisa 2
Sarah 2
Betsey 1
Caroline 1
Catharine 1
Catherine 1
Char. 1
Esther 1
Fanny 1
James 1
Kate 1
M.A. 1
Maria 1
Matilda 1
Rosa 1
Rose 1
Sophia 1
Susanna 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Addley surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
George 8
James 5
John 5
William 5
Frank 4
Charles 3
Alfred 2
Edward 2
Thos. 2
Albert 1
Arthur 1
Gabriel 1
Herbert 1
Jas. 1
Joshua 1
T.J. 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Addley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Addley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 86 people were recorded with the Addley surname. That placed it at #21,449 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Addley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 194 in 2016. That gives Addley a modern rank of #19,976.

What does the Addley surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "Eadda's clearing" in Old English, referring to a person who lived there.

What does the Addley map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Addley bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

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.