NameCensus.

UK surname

Audsley

A surname derived from an Old English place name referring to a forest clearing or meadow.

In the 1881 census there were 330 people recorded with the Audsley surname, ranking it #9,088 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 478, ranked #10,329, down from #9,088 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Crayford, London parishes and Batley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wakefield and Kirklees.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Audsley is 490 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 44.8%.

1881 census count

330

Ranked #9,088

Modern count

478

2016, ranked #10,329

Peak year

2002

490 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Audsley had 330 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,088 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 478 in 2016, ranked #10,329.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 470 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Audsley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Audsley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Audsley 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 209 #10,066
1861 historical 263 #9,423
1881 historical 330 #9,088
1891 historical 441 #8,197
1901 historical 447 #8,746
1911 historical 470 #8,217
1997 modern 480 #9,602
1998 modern 484 #9,841
1999 modern 479 #9,987
2000 modern 476 #10,004
2001 modern 481 #9,743
2002 modern 490 #9,771
2003 modern 469 #9,940
2004 modern 463 #10,074
2005 modern 466 #9,935
2006 modern 470 #9,924
2007 modern 468 #10,039
2008 modern 464 #10,190
2009 modern 485 #10,090
2010 modern 490 #10,211
2011 modern 482 #10,228
2012 modern 462 #10,470
2013 modern 469 #10,492
2014 modern 475 #10,472
2015 modern 478 #10,343
2016 modern 478 #10,329

Geography

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Where Audsleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Crayford, London parishes, Batley, Wakefield and Dewsbury. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wakefield and Kirklees. 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 Crayford Kent
2 London parishes London 3
3 Batley Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Wakefield Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Dewsbury Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wakefield 021 Wakefield
2 Kirklees 018 Kirklees
3 Kirklees 023 Kirklees
4 Wakefield 031 Wakefield
5 Kirklees 016 Kirklees

Forenames

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First names often paired with Audsley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Audsley

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Audsley, 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 Audsley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Audsley 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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Inner London Working Professionals

Within London, Audsley is most associated with areas classed as Inner London Working Professionals, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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 primarily Inner London neighbourhoods are more densely populated than the Supergroup average. Residents have a younger over-all age profile than the Supergroup as a whole, and are less likely to be owner occupiers. Full time employment is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup and multiple car ownership is uncommon. Chinese and non-EU-born European migrants are less in evidence than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Audsley 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

Audsley falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Audsley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Audsley

The surname Audsley is of English origin and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English words 'ald,' meaning old, and 'leah,' meaning a meadow or woodland clearing. The name likely originated in the county of Lancashire, where many early bearers of the name resided.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Audsley can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1285, where a Robert de Aldesley is mentioned. The name also appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire in 1332, with a Richard de Aldilegh listed as a taxpayer.

In the 14th century, the name was also found in various spellings such as Aldislegh, Aldisley, and Aldesley. These variations reflect the inconsistencies in spelling and record-keeping during that time period.

The Audsley surname is associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest was Sir John Audsley (c. 1420-1490), a prominent landowner and member of the gentry in Lancashire. He served as a knight of the shire for Lancashire in the Parliament of 1472.

Another notable bearer of the name was William Audsley (1605-1676), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Shermanbury in Sussex. He published several theological works during his lifetime.

In the 18th century, George Audsley (1738-1804) was a successful merchant and landowner in Liverpool. He played a significant role in the city's economic and social development during the industrial revolution.

The 19th century saw the birth of William James Audsley (1833-1907), a renowned English architect and author. He specialized in the study and restoration of medieval architecture and wrote several influential books on the subject, including "The Art of Chromo-Lithography" and "The Ornamental Arts of Japan."

More recently, Peter Audsley (1924-2016) was a British actor and playwright. He had a prolific career in television, film, and theater, appearing in numerous productions throughout his lifetime.

While the Audsley surname has undergone various spelling variations over the centuries, it remains rooted in its English origins, with a connection to the rural landscapes of Lancashire and a legacy of notable individuals who have contributed to various fields throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Audsley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Audsley 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. Yorkshire leads with 257 Audsleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.06x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 257 8.06x
Lanarkshire 23 2.21x
Lancashire 10 0.26x
Kent 9 0.82x
Surrey 7 0.45x
Angus 6 2.01x
Middlesex 6 0.19x
Ross-shire 4 4.52x
Cheshire 3 0.42x
Morayshire 3 6.00x
Hertfordshire 1 0.45x
Westmorland 1 1.41x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Horbury in Yorkshire leads with 59 Audsleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1057.35x.

Place Total Index
Horbury 59 1057.35x
Ossett Cum Gawthorpe 59 518.00x
Dewsbury 32 97.80x
Leeds 23 12.77x
Soothill 17 147.57x
Barony 13 4.93x
Govan 10 3.88x
Batley 8 26.39x
Crayford 8 166.67x
Hunslet 8 16.08x
Toxteth Park 8 6.18x
Dewsbury Ossett Cum 7 1014.49x
Holy Trinity 7 9.12x
Wortley In Bramley 7 27.71x
Oulton Cum Woodlesford 6 231.66x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 4 34.54x
Cleckheaton 4 34.04x
Heckmondwike 4 38.99x
Longwood 4 77.82x
Rosskeen 4 96.15x
Dundee 3 2.69x
Elgin 3 30.83x
Halifax 3 6.41x
Montrose 3 16.60x
Tranmere 3 11.49x
Wandsworth 3 9.68x
Bermondsey 2 2.09x
Finchley 2 16.21x
Idle 2 13.52x
Mile End Old Town London 2 2.92x
St Botolph Bishopsgate 2 43.86x
Barrow In Furness 1 1.92x
East Barnet 1 22.73x
Gomersal 1 6.72x
Horton In Bradford 1 2.01x
Kirkby Lonsdale 1 52.36x
Lambeth 1 0.36x
Liverpool 1 0.43x
Mirfield 1 5.71x
Ramsgate 1 5.58x
Tooting Graveney 1 22.94x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 24
Sarah 16
Ann 13
Elizabeth 9
Eliza 6
Emma 6
Ada 5
Annie 5
Martha 5
Harriet 4
Jane 4
Lydia 4
Alice 3
Florence 3
Hannah 3
Clara 2
Ellen 2
Esther 2
Louisa 2
Nancy 2
Adelia 1
Agar 1
Agnes 1
Anne 1
Annis 1
Betty 1
Christiana 1
Dinah 1
Edith 1
Emiline 1
Emily 1
Eunice 1
Fanny 1
Henrietta 1
Jemima 1
Jennette 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Lillian 1
Lily 1
Lucy 1
M. 1
Margaret 1
May 1
Minnie 1
Miriam 1
Rachel 1
Rebecca 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 16
George 13
Joseph 8
Thomas 8
William 7
Henry 6
Albert 5
Arthur 5
David 4
Fred 4
Robert 4
Samuel 4
Charles 3
Fredk. 3
Herbert 3
Matthew 3
Nathan 3
Walter 3
Benjamin 2
Edward 2
Harry 2
Isaac 2
James 2
Joe 2
Richard 2
Tom 2
Amos 1
Asa 1
Benjn. 1
Berthold 1
Claude 1
Clement 1
Earnest 1
Edgar 1
Edwin 1
Eli 1
Ephraim 1
Ezra 1
Francis 1
Friend 1
Garrett 1
Hemmingway 1
Isacca 1
Joe. 1
Jos. 1
Joshua 1
Maurice 1
Mitchell 1
Percy 1
Wilby 1

FAQ

Audsley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Audsley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 330 people were recorded with the Audsley surname. That placed it at #9,088 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Audsley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 478 in 2016. That gives Audsley a modern rank of #10,329.

What does the Audsley surname mean?

A surname derived from an Old English place name referring to a forest clearing or meadow.

What does the Audsley map show?

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