NameCensus.

UK surname

Audley

A place name referring to a location formerly called Audeley or Audley near Stoke-on-Trent, England.

In the 1881 census there were 284 people recorded with the Audley surname, ranking it #10,100 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 354, ranked #13,054, down from #10,100 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Toxteth Park, Great Yarmouth and West Derby. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnet, Amber Valley and Purbeck.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Audley is 391 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 24.6%.

1881 census count

284

Ranked #10,100

Modern count

354

2016, ranked #13,054

Peak year

2010

391 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Audley had 284 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,100 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 354 in 2016, ranked #13,054.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 378 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Audley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Audley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Audley 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 147 #13,084
1861 historical 223 #10,942
1881 historical 284 #10,100
1891 historical 259 #12,399
1901 historical 286 #12,029
1911 historical 378 #9,698
1997 modern 347 #12,251
1998 modern 377 #11,894
1999 modern 374 #12,026
2000 modern 363 #12,237
2001 modern 356 #12,228
2002 modern 367 #12,198
2003 modern 368 #11,963
2004 modern 382 #11,672
2005 modern 370 #11,875
2006 modern 370 #11,940
2007 modern 363 #12,255
2008 modern 370 #12,182
2009 modern 374 #12,343
2010 modern 391 #12,207
2011 modern 381 #12,300
2012 modern 352 #12,913
2013 modern 363 #12,815
2014 modern 362 #12,955
2015 modern 357 #12,979
2016 modern 354 #13,054

Geography

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Where Audleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Toxteth Park, Great Yarmouth, West Derby, Buckden and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barnet, Amber Valley, Purbeck, Birmingham and Cambridge. 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 Toxteth Park Lancashire
2 Great Yarmouth Norfolk
3 West Derby Lancashire
4 Buckden Huntingdonshire
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barnet 007 Barnet
2 Amber Valley 001 Amber Valley
3 Purbeck 003 Purbeck
4 Birmingham 120 Birmingham
5 Cambridge 006 Cambridge

Forenames

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First names often paired with Audley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Audley

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Audley is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Audley is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Audley falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Audley

The surname Audley originates from the village of Audley in Staffordshire, England. The name is derived from the Old English words 'ald' meaning old and 'leah' meaning a clearing or meadow, essentially translating to 'old clearing'.

The earliest recorded spelling of the name dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as 'Aldidelege'. This suggests the name has Anglo-Saxon roots and was present in England before the Norman Conquest.

One of the earliest known individuals with this surname was Sir James Audley, who lived around 1316-1369. He was a renowned military leader and fought alongside Edward III in the Battle of Poitiers during the Hundred Years' War.

Another historical figure was Sir Thomas Audley (1488-1544), who served as Lord Chancellor of England under King Henry VIII. He played a significant role in the English Reformation and the dissolution of the monasteries.

In the 16th century, Sir Henry Audley (1561-1632) was an English nobleman and Member of Parliament. He was known for his involvement in the colonization of Virginia and was a member of the Virginia Company.

Moving to the 17th century, Mervyn Audley (1642-1676) was an English playwright and poet. Some of his works include the plays "The Jealous Lovers" and "The Converted Knights".

In the 19th century, Robert Audley (1808-1888) was a British botanist and naturalist. He made significant contributions to the study of plant life and published works on the flora of the British Isles.

The name Audley has also been associated with several place names throughout history. For instance, Audley End in Essex was the name of a manor house and estate owned by the Audley family in the 16th century. Additionally, Audley's Wood in Hampshire was named after a member of the Audley family who owned land in the area.

While the surname Audley has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through migration and colonization. However, its origins can be traced back to the small village in Staffordshire, where it first emerged as a surname in the Middle Ages.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Audley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Audley 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 91 Audleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.77x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 91 2.77x
Warwickshire 33 4.72x
Yorkshire 23 0.84x
Leicestershire 18 5.86x
Middlesex 18 0.65x
Cheshire 17 2.78x
Essex 12 2.19x
Norfolk 11 2.58x
Huntingdonshire 10 18.18x
Staffordshire 9 0.96x
Cambridgeshire 8 4.56x
Dorset 8 4.40x
Northamptonshire 5 1.92x
Hertfordshire 4 2.09x
Kent 4 0.42x
Surrey 3 0.22x
Derbyshire 2 0.46x
Bedfordshire 1 0.70x
Berkshire 1 0.48x
Cumberland 1 0.42x
Durham 1 0.12x
Glamorgan 1 0.21x
Hampshire 1 0.18x
Renfrewshire 1 0.47x
Suffolk 1 0.30x

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 18 Audleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.73x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 18 7.73x
West Derby 17 17.68x
Toxteth Park 15 13.47x
Liverpool 14 7.01x
Leicester St Margaret 12 16.02x
Aston 10 5.20x
Buckden 10 1010.10x
Kirkdale 10 18.08x
Chadwell St Mary 9 1607.14x
Sandbach 9 172.41x
Barnoldswick 8 208.88x
Bromley London 8 13.13x
St Andrewthe Less 8 39.90x
Walton On Hill 8 44.92x
Burslem 7 26.13x
Ardwick 6 20.24x
Belgrave 6 86.58x
Corfe Castle 6 355.03x
Dewsbury 6 21.31x
Great Yarmouth 6 17.01x
Coventry Holy Trinity 5 23.97x
Islip 5 925.93x
Everton 4 3.82x
Gomersal 4 31.23x
Islington London 4 1.49x
Raveningham 4 1739.13x
Bootle Cum Linacre 3 11.49x
Broughton In Salford 3 9.98x
Kensington London 3 1.95x
Kingsley 3 263.16x
Maidstone 3 10.65x
Newton In Makerfield 3 29.79x
Watford 3 20.27x
Brentwood 2 60.06x
Derby St Werburgh 2 7.99x
Elland Cum Greetland 2 16.17x
Manchester 2 1.35x
Wareham Lady St Mary 2 142.86x
Aldershot 1 5.26x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 1 10.03x
Barrow In Furness 1 2.24x
Beccles 1 18.42x
Bermondsey 1 1.21x
Bradford 1 1.50x
Broom 1 147.06x
Burnley 1 3.61x
Camberwell 1 0.57x
Cardiff St Mary 1 3.76x
Cathcart 1 8.61x
Chester St Mary On Hill 1 19.05x
Croydon 1 1.33x
Heckingham 1 322.58x
Hindley 1 7.13x
Hockley 1 169.49x
Macclesfield 1 3.68x
Monks Coppenhall 1 4.33x
North Mimms 1 83.33x
Over 1 16.08x
Reading St Giles 1 4.90x
St Cuthbert Within 1 36.23x
St George Hanover Square 1 2.05x
St Marylebone London 1 0.68x
Stockport 1 3.18x
Swanscombe 1 23.53x
Tamworth 1 20.00x
Tempsford 1 196.08x
Ulverston 1 10.45x
Wavertree 1 9.51x
Westminster St James 1 3.51x
Widnes 1 4.22x
Wolverhampton 1 1.39x
Wortley In Bramley 1 4.60x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 17
Elizabeth 12
Jane 12
Sarah 12
Emma 10
Ellen 7
Ann 6
Alice 5
Ada 4
Caroline 3
Catherine 3
Eliza 3
Amelia 2
Annie 2
Edith 2
Eleanor 2
Ethel 2
Hannah 2
Harriet 2
Laura 2
Margaret 2
Minnie 2
Rose 2
Sophia 2
Bertha 1
Bessie 1
Blanche 1
Cather 1
Cecilia 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Clementina 1
Dorshaw 1
Emily 1
Fanny 1
Flora 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Hanner 1
Lettesia 1
Lilian 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Margrat 1
Melinda 1
Phillis 1
Rebecca 1
Rosalina 1
Selome 1
Thomas 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 15
William 15
George 11
Samuel 10
Thomas 10
Henry 9
Robert 6
Arthur 5
Charles 5
James 5
Edward 4
Joseph 4
Frederick 3
Albert 2
Alexander 2
Benjamin 2
Mark 2
Alfred 1
Benj. 1
Charley 1
Christopher 1
David 1
Douglas 1
E. 1
Easaw 1
Edmund 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Fredk. 1
Henery 1
Hugh 1
Jacob 1
Michael 1
Oswin 1
Peter 1
Philip 1
Reginald 1
Thos. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Audley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Audley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 284 people were recorded with the Audley surname. That placed it at #10,100 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Audley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 354 in 2016. That gives Audley a modern rank of #13,054.

What does the Audley surname mean?

A place name referring to a location formerly called Audeley or Audley near Stoke-on-Trent, England.

What does the Audley map show?

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