NameCensus.

UK surname

Astley

Locational surname deriving from a place in Warwickshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 1,982 people recorded with the Astley surname, ranking it #2,216 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,471, ranked #2,667, down from #2,216 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Sedgley, Llanfair-Caereinion and Preston. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Merthyr Tydfil, Powys and Blackburn with Darwen.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Astley is 2,658 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 24.7%.

1881 census count

1,982

Ranked #2,216

Modern count

2,471

2016, ranked #2,667

Peak year

1911

2,658 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Astley had 1,982 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,216 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,471 in 2016, ranked #2,667.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,658 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Astley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Astley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Astley 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 1,240 #2,306
1861 historical 1,183 #2,397
1881 historical 1,982 #2,216
1891 historical 2,090 #2,221
1901 historical 2,454 #2,221
1911 historical 2,658 #1,936
1997 modern 2,390 #2,621
1998 modern 2,585 #2,528
1999 modern 2,619 #2,515
2000 modern 2,583 #2,540
2001 modern 2,519 #2,545
2002 modern 2,571 #2,553
2003 modern 2,556 #2,509
2004 modern 2,528 #2,546
2005 modern 2,503 #2,538
2006 modern 2,486 #2,556
2007 modern 2,483 #2,582
2008 modern 2,494 #2,585
2009 modern 2,528 #2,618
2010 modern 2,535 #2,666
2011 modern 2,535 #2,636
2012 modern 2,472 #2,649
2013 modern 2,517 #2,645
2014 modern 2,524 #2,654
2015 modern 2,480 #2,669
2016 modern 2,471 #2,667

Geography

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Where Astleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Sedgley, Llanfair-Caereinion, Preston, Birmingham Town: Aston and Blackburn. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Merthyr Tydfil, Powys, Blackburn with Darwen, Chorley and Cheshire East. 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 Sedgley Staffordshire
2 Llanfair-Caereinion Montgomeryshire
3 Preston Lancashire
4 Birmingham Town: Aston Warwickshire
5 Blackburn Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Merthyr Tydfil 002 Merthyr Tydfil
2 Powys 003 Powys
3 Blackburn with Darwen 009 Blackburn with Darwen
4 Chorley 010 Chorley
5 Cheshire East 040 Cheshire East

Forenames

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First names often paired with Astley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Astley

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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, Astley 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

Astley is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Astley falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Astley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Astley

The surname Astley originates from England, specifically from the county of Lancashire. It is believed to have emerged during the Middle Ages, possibly as early as the 11th or 12th century.

The name Astley is derived from an Old English place name, which means "the East wood" or "the East clearing." It is composed of the elements "east" and "leah," the latter referring to a woodland clearing or meadow.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Astley can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land and property commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The Domesday Book mentions several individuals with the surname Astley, indicating their presence in various locations across England.

The Astley family was particularly prominent in Lancashire, where they held lands and manors. One notable figure was Sir Ralph Astley, who lived during the 13th century and served as a knight in the service of King Edward I.

During the Wars of the Roses, a conflict that took place between 1455 and 1487, several members of the Astley family fought for the House of York. One of them, Sir Thomas Astley (c. 1435-1484), was a prominent Yorkist commander who fought in several battles, including the Battle of Tewkesbury in 1471.

Another remarkable individual with the surname Astley was Isaac Astley (1590-1659), a Puritan minister and writer who served as a member of the Westminster Assembly during the English Civil War. He was known for his religious works, including "A New and Compleat System of the Whole Body of Divinity," published in 1655.

In the realm of literature, John Astley (1720-1787) was a renowned author and compiler of travel narratives. He published several influential works, including "A New General Collection of Voyages and Travels" and "A New Voyage Round the World," which contributed significantly to the dissemination of geographical knowledge during the 18th century.

The Astley surname has also been associated with notable figures in the performing arts. One such individual was Philip Astley (1742-1814), often regarded as the father of the modern circus. He established the first modern amphitheater for equestrian performances in London in 1768, paving the way for the development of the circus as we know it today.

Throughout its history, the surname Astley has been spelled in various ways, including Astleigh, Astlee, and Astleye, reflecting the regional variations and linguistic changes over time. However, the name has maintained its association with the regions of Lancashire and Cheshire, where it has deep roots and a rich historical legacy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Astley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Astley 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. Lancashire leads with 945 Astleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.11x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 945 4.11x
Staffordshire 258 3.95x
Montgomeryshire 161 36.27x
Warwickshire 133 2.72x
Shropshire 68 4.06x
Worcestershire 50 1.98x
Cheshire 48 1.12x
Middlesex 48 0.25x
Yorkshire 47 0.24x
Leicestershire 30 1.40x
Kent 22 0.33x
Durham 21 0.36x
Denbighshire 15 2.05x
Derbyshire 15 0.49x
Wiltshire 15 0.88x
Surrey 14 0.15x
Aberdeenshire 11 0.61x
Merionethshire 10 2.82x
Essex 9 0.24x
Lincolnshire 9 0.29x
Nottinghamshire 9 0.34x
Norfolk 8 0.27x
Cornwall 6 0.27x
Berkshire 4 0.28x
Buckinghamshire 4 0.34x
Flintshire 4 0.77x
Caernarfonshire 3 0.38x
Cumberland 3 0.18x
Bedfordshire 2 0.20x
Gloucestershire 2 0.05x
Northumberland 2 0.07x
Westmorland 2 0.47x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.08x
Channel Islands 1 0.17x
Devon 1 0.02x
Glamorgan 1 0.03x
Hampshire 1 0.03x
Hertfordshire 1 0.07x
Oxfordshire 1 0.08x
Sussex 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Blackburn in Lancashire leads with 244 Astleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 39.89x.

Place Total Index
Blackburn 244 39.89x
Llanfair Caereinion 60 395.78x
Aston 55 4.09x
Preston 55 8.94x
Birmingham 54 3.32x
Tipton 44 21.97x
Sedgley 34 14.00x
Chorley 31 24.03x
Dudley 30 9.75x
Salford 27 3.99x
Great Bolton 26 8.54x
Wigan 26 8.09x
Broughton In Salford 25 11.89x
Harborne 25 11.93x
North Meols 22 9.78x
Pilkington 22 25.19x
Wolverhampton 22 4.38x
Stoke Upon Trent 21 3.03x
Hulme 18 3.75x
Monks Coppenhall 16 9.92x
Barwell 15 132.04x
Brandon Byshottles 15 20.78x
Horninglow 15 48.70x
Llanwnog 15 161.64x
Pilsworth 15 297.03x
Stretford 15 11.86x
Heaton Norris 14 10.70x
Leyland 14 35.01x
Llanllwchaiarn 14 72.80x
Manchester 14 1.35x
Castleton 13 5.66x
Little Bolton 13 4.40x
Weston Underwood 12 1034.48x
Cannock 11 9.64x
Chorlton On Medlock 11 3.01x
Clitheroe 11 16.26x
Farnworth 11 7.99x
Lower Darwen 11 36.46x
Newhills 11 29.94x
Newtown 11 38.75x
Bettws 10 263.85x
Bilston 10 7.89x
Prestwich 10 17.44x
Shevington 10 95.15x
Skelmersdale 10 26.10x
Wem 10 40.18x
Accrington 9 4.31x
Ardwick 9 4.34x
Broughton 9 31.28x
Deptford St Paul 9 1.77x
Islington London 9 0.48x
Kirkdale 9 2.33x
Lambeth 9 0.53x
Liverpool 9 0.64x
Llanaber 9 64.15x
Pendlebury 9 18.54x
Reddish 9 28.42x
Sharples 9 36.10x
Shawbury 9 139.97x
St Marylebone London 9 0.87x
Walthamstow 9 6.54x
West Bromwich 9 2.40x
Westleigh 9 17.24x
Worsley 9 6.35x
Worthen 9 50.62x
Elsham 8 240.24x
Great Harwood 8 19.25x
Great Little Marsden 8 7.60x
Hammerwich 8 86.21x
Kings Norton 8 3.53x
Kingswinford 8 3.37x
Llanwnog Surnant 8 346.32x
Newcastle Under Lyme 8 6.91x
Oldberrow 8 1632.65x
Pendleton In Salford 8 2.92x
Walsall Foreign 8 2.37x
Widmerpool 8 816.33x
Barton Upon Irwell 7 4.04x
Macclesfield 7 3.68x
Turton 7 18.60x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 166
Elizabeth 88
Sarah 72
Ann 49
Alice 47
Jane 43
Margaret 39
Emma 33
Ellen 32
Eliza 28
Hannah 23
Annie 22
Martha 22
Edith 12
Harriet 12
Ada 11
Emily 11
Maria 11
Clara 10
Bertha 8
Caroline 8
Esther 8
Catherine 7
Florence 7
Louisa 7
Matilda 7
Agnes 6
Elizth. 6
Gertrude 6
Rachel 6
Anne 5
Charlotte 5
Eleanor 5
Fanny 5
Lucy 5
Amelia 4
Betsy 4
Betty 4
Frances 4
Grace 4
Helen 4
Margret 4
Margt. 4
Susan 4
Eliz. 3
Nancy 3
Phoebe 3
Rachael 3
Selina 3
Sophia 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 138
William 121
James 90
Thomas 75
Joseph 43
George 42
Henry 39
Richard 33
Edward 28
Charles 24
Robert 24
Samuel 20
Arthur 19
David 19
Alfred 12
Walter 9
Albert 8
Edwin 8
Evan 8
Francis 8
Frank 8
Isaac 8
Harry 7
Benjamin 6
Hugh 6
Thos. 6
Daniel 5
Fred 5
Herbert 5
Frederick 4
Peter 4
Philip 4
Roger 4
Wm. 4
Earnest 3
Enoch 3
Ernest 3
Jas. 3
Job 3
Ralph 3
Elijah 2
Emanuel 2
J. 2
Mary 2
Matthies 2
Moses 2
Reginald 2
Richd. 2
Sidney 2
Simeon 2

FAQ

Astley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Astley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,982 people were recorded with the Astley surname. That placed it at #2,216 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Astley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,471 in 2016. That gives Astley a modern rank of #2,667.

What does the Astley surname mean?

Locational surname deriving from a place in Warwickshire, England.

What does the Astley map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Astley 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.