NameCensus.

UK surname

Badley

A surname derived from an English place name meaning "dweller by the glade or clearing".

In the 1881 census there were 323 people recorded with the Badley surname, ranking it #9,240 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 340, ranked #13,456, down from #9,240 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Tipton otherwise Tibington, Dudley and Theddlethorpe St Helen and All Saints. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Uttlesford, North Kesteven and Wirral.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Badley is 507 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 5.3%.

1881 census count

323

Ranked #9,240

Modern count

340

2016, ranked #13,456

Peak year

1861

507 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Badley had 323 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,240 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 340 in 2016, ranked #13,456.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 507 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Badley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Badley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Badley 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 320 #7,250
1861 historical 507 #5,159
1881 historical 323 #9,240
1891 historical 482 #7,652
1901 historical 378 #9,862
1911 historical 375 #9,747
1997 modern 309 #13,268
1998 modern 309 #13,612
1999 modern 328 #13,183
2000 modern 330 #13,066
2001 modern 321 #13,125
2002 modern 326 #13,241
2003 modern 315 #13,384
2004 modern 310 #13,589
2005 modern 315 #13,375
2006 modern 305 #13,766
2007 modern 310 #13,730
2008 modern 310 #13,834
2009 modern 311 #14,069
2010 modern 321 #14,066
2011 modern 314 #14,165
2012 modern 322 #13,799
2013 modern 339 #13,477
2014 modern 333 #13,770
2015 modern 329 #13,800
2016 modern 340 #13,456

Geography

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Where Badleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Tipton otherwise Tibington, Dudley, Theddlethorpe St Helen and All Saints, London parishes and St Pancras. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Uttlesford, North Kesteven, Wirral and Point. 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 Tipton otherwise Tibington Staffordshire
2 Dudley Staffordshire
3 Theddlethorpe St Helen and All Saints Lincolnshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 St Pancras London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Uttlesford 008 Uttlesford
2 North Kesteven 012 North Kesteven
3 Wirral 025 Wirral
4 North Kesteven 008 North Kesteven
5 Point Na h-Eileanan Siar

Forenames

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First names often paired with Badley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Badley

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Badley, 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 Badley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Badley 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, Badley 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

Badley is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Badley falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Badley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Badley

The surname Badley is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words 'bad' and 'leah', which together translate to 'dweller at the broad meadow'. This suggests that the name likely originated from a specific location or settlement where the earliest bearers of the name resided.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Badley surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive record of landowners and their properties across England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The mention of Badley in this historical document indicates the antiquity of the name and its presence in England during the Norman conquest.

During the 13th century, the name appeared in various records, often spelled as 'Badeley' or 'Badelie'. One notable example is that of John Badeley, a prominent landowner and merchant from the county of Worcestershire, who lived around 1250. His descendants continued to carry the Badley surname, establishing themselves as a notable family in the region.

In the 16th century, the name Badley was associated with several prominent figures. One such individual was Thomas Badley, born in 1573, who served as a member of Parliament for the borough of Bridgnorth in Shropshire. Another notable figure from this period was Robert Badley, a respected scholar and theologian who attended Oxford University in the late 1500s.

The 17th century saw the emergence of Richard Badley, a successful merchant and landowner from Warwickshire, who was born in 1620. His son, also named Richard Badley (1650-1718), followed in his father's footsteps and became a prominent figure in the local community.

In the 18th century, the name Badley gained further recognition with the birth of Thomas Badley (1742-1821), a renowned architect and civil engineer who was involved in the construction of several notable buildings and infrastructure projects across England.

As the centuries progressed, the Badley surname continued to be represented by individuals from various walks of life, including academics, clergy members, and military personnel. One notable example from the 19th century is William Badley (1818-1892), a respected scholar and educator who served as the headmaster of Loughborough Grammar School for over three decades.

Throughout its history, the surname Badley has maintained a strong presence in various regions of England, particularly in counties such as Worcestershire, Shropshire, Warwickshire, and Staffordshire, where many of its earliest recorded bearers resided.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Badley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Badley 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. Lincolnshire leads with 69 Badleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.70x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 69 13.70x
Staffordshire 61 5.74x
Lancashire 32 0.86x
Yorkshire 26 0.83x
Worcestershire 20 4.86x
Middlesex 18 0.57x
Surrey 16 1.04x
Cheshire 13 1.87x
Leicestershire 8 2.29x
Cumberland 7 2.58x
Warwickshire 7 0.88x
Westmorland 7 10.11x
Nottinghamshire 6 1.41x
Kent 5 0.47x
Sussex 5 0.94x
Cambridgeshire 4 2.00x
Devon 4 0.61x
Essex 4 0.64x
Gloucestershire 4 0.65x
Suffolk 2 0.52x
Ayrshire 1 0.42x
Bedfordshire 1 0.61x
Herefordshire 1 0.77x
Somerset 1 0.20x
Wiltshire 1 0.36x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bishop Norton in Lincolnshire leads with 13 Badleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3421.05x.

Place Total Index
Bishop Norton 13 3421.05x
Theddlethorpe All Sts 13 3714.29x
Wednesbury 12 45.15x
Wolverhampton 11 13.45x
Oldbury 10 49.41x
Dudley 9 17.99x
Lambeth 9 3.28x
St Pancras London 9 3.55x
Leicester St Mary 8 28.35x
Stoke Upon Trent 8 7.09x
Werneth 8 366.97x
Burslem 7 22.97x
Everton 7 5.87x
Failsworth 7 81.87x
Kirkland 7 472.97x
Workington 7 45.07x
Newark Upon Trent 6 39.32x
Warrington 6 13.54x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 5 17.19x
Deptford St Paul 5 6.03x
Horncastle 5 96.15x
Pendleton In Salford 5 11.23x
Smallthorne 5 126.58x
Birmingham 4 1.51x
Edlington 4 1739.13x
Edmonton 4 15.75x
Harborne 4 11.74x
Hove 4 17.16x
Hunsworth 4 243.90x
Leeds 4 2.27x
Louth 4 34.63x
Newton In Clitheroe 4 1111.11x
Spilsby 4 250.00x
Stapleton 4 34.13x
Withern 4 816.33x
Baumber 3 810.81x
Bermondsey 3 3.20x
Crediton 3 48.31x
Mablethorpe 3 434.78x
Wisbech St Peter 3 29.97x
Woodford 3 42.61x
Bloxholm 2 2000.00x
Blymhill 2 370.37x
Bromley London 2 2.89x
Bucknall 2 555.56x
Hyde 2 9.75x
Islington London 2 0.65x
Manchester 2 1.19x
Rotherhithe 2 5.14x
Salford 2 1.82x
Sheffield 2 2.01x
Spittlegate 2 28.69x
Sutton St Mary St James 2 338.98x
Tipton 2 6.14x
Walsall Borough 2 24.21x
West Derby 2 1.83x
Willenhall 2 10.04x
Willingham 2 400.00x
Aston 1 0.46x
Belbroughton 1 46.95x
Boston 1 6.54x
Brandeston 1 232.56x
Bredbury 1 24.88x
Chatteris 1 19.65x
Cleethorpes 1 33.78x
Cradley 1 52.91x
Holy Trinity 1 1.33x
Leyton Low 1 7.91x
Lymm 1 19.76x
Nether Hallam 1 2.37x
Penge 1 4.97x
Revesby 1 163.93x
Rotherham 1 5.68x
Sculcoates 1 2.02x
Sedgley 1 2.53x
Skirbeck 1 35.46x
Stainton Le Vale 1 588.24x
Swindon 1 4.63x
Wakefield 1 4.17x
Wilnecote 1 43.86x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 25
Elizabeth 18
Sarah 10
Ellen 8
Ann 7
Martha 6
Annie 5
Hannah 5
Harriet 5
Alice 4
Eliza 3
Emma 3
Fanny 3
Jane 3
Maria 3
Ada 2
Agnes 2
Caroline 2
Eleanor 2
Emily 2
Florence 2
Laura 2
Nancy 2
Rebecca 2
Rose 2
Susan 2
Anna 1
Anne 1
Betsey 1
Betsy 1
Bridget 1
Charlott 1
Charlotte 1
Elenor 1
Elizth.H. 1
Ellenor 1
Ethel 1
Grace 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Katherine 1
Lily 1
Louia 1
Louisa 1
Louise 1
Lucy 1
Margaret 1
Marien 1
May 1
Mehetabel 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 20
William 18
George 15
James 14
Joseph 8
Thomas 8
Arthur 7
Henry 6
Samuel 4
Stephen 4
Edward 3
Edwin 3
Charles 2
Ernest 2
Frank 2
Geo. 2
Isaac 2
Walter 2
Albert 1
Benj. 1
Benjamin 1
Cecil 1
Chas 1
Danzel 1
David 1
Edmund 1
Edwd.F. 1
Enoch 1
Ephraim 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Frederick 1
Fredrick 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Jas. 1
Jesse 1
Matthew 1
Maurice 1
Michael 1
Michal 1
Moses 1
Patsy 1
Peter 1
Reuben 1
Richard 1
Thos. 1
Wm. 1
Wm.T. 1
Wright 1

FAQ

Badley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Badley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 323 people were recorded with the Badley surname. That placed it at #9,240 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Badley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 340 in 2016. That gives Badley a modern rank of #13,456.

What does the Badley surname mean?

A surname derived from an English place name meaning "dweller by the glade or clearing".

What does the Badley map show?

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