NameCensus.

UK surname

Atley

A locational surname derived from a place named Atley in Yorkshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 139 people recorded with the Atley surname, ranking it #16,228 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 111, ranked #29,049, down from #16,228 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Govan Combination and St John Hackney. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ashford, Toryglen and Oatlands and Garthamlock, Auchinlea and Gartloch.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Atley is 158 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 20.1%.

1881 census count

139

Ranked #16,228

Modern count

111

2016, ranked #29,049

Peak year

1891

158 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Atley had 139 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,228 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 111 in 2016, ranked #29,049.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 158 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Routine Occupations or Retirement.

Atley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Atley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Atley 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 155 #12,604
1861 historical 136 #16,556
1881 historical 139 #16,228
1891 historical 158 #17,705
1901 historical 100 #22,863
1911 historical 110 #21,519
1997 modern 110 #25,529
1998 modern 116 #25,332
1999 modern 118 #25,227
2000 modern 111 #26,111
2001 modern 106 #26,468
2002 modern 125 #24,492
2003 modern 119 #25,026
2004 modern 117 #25,448
2005 modern 113 #25,974
2006 modern 113 #26,267
2007 modern 108 #27,391
2008 modern 107 #27,844
2009 modern 110 #27,991
2010 modern 116 #27,704
2011 modern 119 #27,063
2012 modern 121 #26,829
2013 modern 119 #27,541
2014 modern 120 #27,646
2015 modern 122 #27,245
2016 modern 111 #29,049

Geography

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Where Atleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Govan Combination, St John Hackney and Hartlepool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ashford, Toryglen and Oatlands, Garthamlock, Auchinlea and Gartloch, Barlanark and East Riding of Yorkshire. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 St John Hackney London (North Districts)
5 Hartlepool Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ashford 004 Ashford
2 Toryglen and Oatlands Glasgow City
3 Garthamlock, Auchinlea and Gartloch Glasgow City
4 Barlanark Glasgow City
5 East Riding of Yorkshire 020 East Riding of Yorkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Atley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Atley

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Routine Occupations or Retirement

Nationally, the Atley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Routine Occupations or Retirement, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Atley household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods are characterised by high proportions of single, often never-married adults of normal retirement age or older, including many that are in the most advanced age groups. Most adults are UK born and live at high residential densities, and many of the children living with parents are in adulthood. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are uncommon, but above average proportions of households include individuals that identify with different ethnic groups. Long-term disability is relatively common, and the dominant accommodation type is flats. Unemployment rates are high, with most of those employed working in routine occupations. Few individuals have high level qualifications. Car ownership is not high.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Atley is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Atley is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Atley 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 Atley 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 Atley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Atley

The surname ATLEY is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "aet ley," which translates to "at the lea" or "at the meadow." This suggests that the name was likely initially given to someone who lived near a meadow or open field.

While the earliest recorded instances of the name are difficult to pinpoint with certainty, some historians believe it may have appeared in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners and property conducted in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. However, due to variations in spelling and transcription, it is challenging to confirm this definitively.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname ATLEY was John Atley, who was born in Yorkshire, England, in the late 15th century. He was a prominent landowner and served as a magistrate in his local community.

In the 16th century, the name ATLEY can be found in various records, including parish registers and tax rolls. One notable figure from this period was William Atley, born in 1532 in Dorset, England. He was a successful merchant and contributed to the construction of a local church in his hometown.

During the 17th century, the ATLEY surname spread to other parts of England, as well as to the American colonies. Among the early settlers with this name was Thomas Atley, who arrived in Virginia in 1635. He was granted a land patent and established a successful farming operation.

Another prominent individual with the ATLEY surname was Samuel Atley, born in 1687 in Gloucestershire, England. He was a respected scholar and author, best known for his work on English grammar and rhetoric.

In the 18th century, the ATLEY surname continued to be associated with various professions and occupations. One notable figure was James Atley, born in 1725 in Wiltshire, England. He was a successful businessman and philanthropist, known for his support of local charities and educational initiatives.

Throughout history, the ATLEY surname has been spelled in various ways, including Atlee, Atly, and Ateley. While the name may have originated from a specific place or location, it has since become a widespread surname found in many parts of the world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Atley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Atley 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. Middlesex leads with 36 Atleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.66x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 36 2.66x
Yorkshire 34 2.53x
Durham 26 6.45x
Surrey 8 1.21x
Lanarkshire 6 1.37x
Lancashire 5 0.31x
Sussex 5 2.19x
Essex 3 1.12x
Hertfordshire 3 3.21x
Gloucestershire 2 0.75x
Leicestershire 2 1.33x
Nottinghamshire 2 1.09x
Berkshire 1 0.98x
Cornwall 1 0.65x
Kent 1 0.22x
Lincolnshire 1 0.46x
Oxfordshire 1 1.19x
Staffordshire 1 0.22x
Warwickshire 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. Hackney London in Middlesex leads with 8 Atleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.52x.

Place Total Index
Hackney London 8 10.52x
Cornforth 7 588.24x
Govan 6 5.53x
Islington London 6 4.57x
Cassop 5 1785.71x
Edmonton 5 45.79x
Hammersmith London 5 14.97x
Norton 5 337.84x
Riccall 5 1388.89x
Salehurst 5 505.05x
Kelfield 4 2500.00x
Lambeth 4 3.38x
Oldham 4 7.70x
Spofforth 4 2222.22x
Willesden 4 31.30x
Bedale 3 612.24x
Ilkley 3 136.36x
Monkwearmouth Shore 3 38.12x
Sheffield 3 7.01x
Tring 3 120.00x
Wanstead 3 63.97x
Bishopwearmouth 2 5.78x
Gateshead 2 6.62x
Leeds 2 2.64x
Nottingham St Mary 2 4.23x
Poplar London 2 7.82x
Scalby In Scarborough 2 714.29x
St Marylebone London 2 2.76x
Adwick Le Street 1 833.33x
Aldwark 1 1000.00x
Armley 1 16.86x
Barrow In Furness 1 4.57x
Battersea 1 2.00x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 1 21.74x
Birmingham 1 0.88x
Brightside Bierlow 1 3.80x
Bristol St George 1 8.13x
Camberwell 1 1.15x
Clerkenwell London 1 3.13x
Croydon 1 2.73x
East Bedfont 1 149.25x
Easthampstead 1 181.82x
Hornsey 1 5.83x
Knighton 1 117.65x
Langford 1 555.56x
Loughborough 1 14.66x
Louth 1 20.12x
Margate St John Baptist 1 11.81x
Minchinhampton 1 47.17x
Osmotherley 1 232.56x
Paddington London 1 2.01x
Saltash 1 84.03x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 3.67x
Stokesley 1 119.05x
Stranton 1 7.36x
Thornaby 1 19.92x
Wednesbury 1 8.74x
West Herrington 1 70.92x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 10
John 9
Henry 7
Thomas 7
George 5
Charles 3
Philip 3
Richard 3
Robert 3
Alexander 2
Alfred 2
Frank 2
James 2
Joseph 2
Thos. 2
Arthur 1
Bernard 1
Edward 1
Mabel 1
S. 1
Tom 1
Walter 1
Whit 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Atley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Atley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 139 people were recorded with the Atley surname. That placed it at #16,228 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Atley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 111 in 2016. That gives Atley a modern rank of #29,049.

What does the Atley surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place named Atley in Yorkshire, England.

What does the Atley map show?

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