NameCensus.

UK surname

Atherley

An English habitation surname derived from a place name meaning "clearing of land for meadow or pasture."

In the 1881 census there were 210 people recorded with the Atherley surname, ranking it #12,440 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 301, ranked #14,696, down from #12,440 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Burton-on-Trent, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars and St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Gedling, Southwark and Solihull.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Atherley is 325 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 43.3%.

1881 census count

210

Ranked #12,440

Modern count

301

2016, ranked #14,696

Peak year

1999

325 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Atherley had 210 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,440 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 301 in 2016, ranked #14,696.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 324 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Atherley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Atherley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Atherley 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 141 #13,507
1861 historical 180 #13,057
1881 historical 210 #12,440
1891 historical 251 #12,729
1901 historical 324 #11,042
1911 historical 285 #11,837
1997 modern 308 #13,297
1998 modern 317 #13,392
1999 modern 325 #13,257
2000 modern 319 #13,391
2001 modern 319 #13,168
2002 modern 312 #13,639
2003 modern 315 #13,384
2004 modern 318 #13,374
2005 modern 292 #14,072
2006 modern 285 #14,361
2007 modern 279 #14,732
2008 modern 277 #14,940
2009 modern 289 #14,809
2010 modern 295 #14,911
2011 modern 294 #14,798
2012 modern 288 #14,934
2013 modern 300 #14,744
2014 modern 306 #14,647
2015 modern 307 #14,504
2016 modern 301 #14,696

Geography

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Where Atherleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Burton-on-Trent, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars, St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles, Arnold and Mansfield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Gedling, Southwark, Solihull, Cheshire West and Chester and Newark and Sherwood. 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 Burton-on-Trent Staffordshire
2 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire
3 St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles Yorkshire, East Riding
4 Arnold Nottinghamshire
5 Mansfield Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Gedling 002 Gedling
2 Southwark 008 Southwark
3 Solihull 011 Solihull
4 Cheshire West and Chester 031 Cheshire West and Chester
5 Newark and Sherwood 005 Newark and Sherwood

Forenames

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First names often paired with Atherley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Atherley

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Atherley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Atherley 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Atherley 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

Atherley 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

Atherley falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Atherley 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 Atherley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Atherley

The surname Atherley has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from a locational name, referring to someone who hailed from a place called Atherley or a similar variation.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Atherlega" or "Atherleia." This entry suggests that the name may have originated from a place name in Worcestershire or Warwickshire.

During the 13th century, the name appeared in various spellings, such as "Atherleye," "Atherle," and "Atherlay," reflecting the fluid nature of surname spellings in those times. These variations likely stemmed from the different pronunciations and regional dialects across England.

Notable individuals with the surname Atherley include William Atherley (1714-1786), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Weymouth and Melcombe Regis. Another prominent figure was Arthur Atherley (1563-1626), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Warden of Wadham College, Oxford.

In the 18th century, the name gained recognition with the birth of Samuel Atherley (1734-1799), an English author and translator who published works on various subjects, including literature and natural history. His son, James Atherley (1765-1842), followed in his footsteps as a writer and poet.

The Atherley family also left its mark in the military. One such example is Major General Richard Atherley (1810-1888), a British Army officer who served in the Crimean War and was awarded the Crimea Medal and the Turkish Crimean War Medal.

Moving into the 19th century, the name continued to be associated with notable figures, such as Joseph Atherley (1828-1900), a British architect who designed several churches and public buildings in the West Midlands region of England.

These examples illustrate the rich history and diverse backgrounds of individuals bearing the surname Atherley, which has its roots firmly planted in the English soil and has been carried through generations across various professions and walks of life.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Atherley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Atherley 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 33 Atherleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.36x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 33 1.36x
Nottinghamshire 33 11.95x
Middlesex 27 1.32x
Warwickshire 26 5.03x
Derbyshire 21 6.55x
Staffordshire 21 3.04x
Leicestershire 11 4.84x
Hampshire 9 2.14x
Yorkshire 9 0.44x
Gloucestershire 6 1.49x
Dunbartonshire 4 7.27x
Lincolnshire 3 0.92x
Hertfordshire 2 1.42x
Surrey 2 0.20x
Ayrshire 1 0.65x
Oxfordshire 1 0.79x
Sussex 1 0.29x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 21 Atherleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.20x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 21 12.20x
Arnold 15 372.21x
Repton 14 1157.02x
Burton Extra 12 303.03x
Leicester St Margaret 11 19.86x
Nottingham St Mary 10 14.00x
Broughton In Salford 9 40.49x
Mansfield 7 73.30x
St George Hanover Square 7 19.40x
Cheltenham 6 19.35x
Derby St Peter 6 58.71x
Gorton 6 26.26x
Newton 5 26.70x
Toxteth Park 5 6.07x
West Bromwich 5 12.63x
Aston Cum Aughton 4 240.96x
Bethnal Green London 4 4.49x
Cardross 4 60.51x
Hackney London 4 3.48x
Wolverhampton 4 7.52x
Brading 3 53.76x
Handsworth 3 55.87x
Paddington London 3 3.98x
Portsmouth 3 31.02x
South Common Lincoln 3 1764.71x
St Marylebone London 3 2.74x
Wardleworth 3 21.60x
Aston 2 1.41x
Atherstone 2 75.76x
Barton Upon Irwell 2 10.93x
Bishops Waltham 2 114.29x
Brightside Bierlow 2 5.02x
St Pancras London 2 1.21x
Sutton 2 24.54x
Watford 2 18.26x
Brighton 1 1.44x
Caterham 1 22.68x
Chelsea London 1 1.62x
Clapham 1 3.90x
Headington 1 51.02x
Ilkeston 1 11.12x
Isleworth 1 10.98x
Kilmarnock 1 5.48x
Lenton 1 15.38x
Mancetter 1 67.11x
Mile End Old Town London 1 2.29x
Salford 1 1.40x
St Thomas Winchester 1 33.78x
Westminster St Margaret 1 10.12x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 10
Eliza 7
Mary 7
Elizabeth 6
Annie 5
Clara 4
Emma 4
Jane 4
Harriet 3
Martha 3
Ann 2
Charlotte 2
Elizth. 2
Emily 2
Florence 2
Hannah 2
Harriett 2
Maria 2
Winifred 2
Agnes 1
Amy 1
Anne 1
Beatrice 1
Bessie 1
Edith 1
Ellen 1
Ethel 1
Eva 1
Fanny 1
Frances 1
Gertrude 1
Grace 1
Isabel 1
Jessy 1
John 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Louia 1
Louisa 1
M.A. 1
M.E. 1
Margt. 1
Matilda 1
May 1
Mildred 1
Millicent 1
Minnie 1
Rosa 1
Selina 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 14
Henry 9
Thomas 9
John 8
Albert 5
Arthur 5
Samuel 5
Frederick 4
William 4
Alfred 3
Francis 3
Herbert 3
James 3
Richd. 3
Edwd. 2
J. 2
Mark 2
Walter 2
Cecil 1
Charles 1
Christopher 1
Earnest 1
Evelyn 1
Ezekial 1
Hamilton 1
Horace 1
Howard 1
Louisa 1
Percy 1
Philip 1
Reuben 1
Richard 1
Robert 1
Will. 1

FAQ

Atherley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Atherley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 210 people were recorded with the Atherley surname. That placed it at #12,440 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Atherley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 301 in 2016. That gives Atherley a modern rank of #14,696.

What does the Atherley surname mean?

An English habitation surname derived from a place name meaning "clearing of land for meadow or pasture."

What does the Atherley map show?

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