NameCensus.

UK surname

Bagley

An English locational surname derived from any of the various places named Bagley, meaning "badger clearing."

In the 1881 census there were 2,227 people recorded with the Bagley surname, ranking it #1,996 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,038, ranked #2,215, down from #1,996 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Sedgley and Dudley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Dudley, Copeland and Sandwell.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bagley is 3,236 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 36.4%.

1881 census count

2,227

Ranked #1,996

Modern count

3,038

2016, ranked #2,215

Peak year

1999

3,236 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bagley had 2,227 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,996 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,038 in 2016, ranked #2,215.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,960 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Bagley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bagley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bagley 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 1,385 #2,064
1861 historical 1,659 #1,727
1881 historical 2,227 #1,996
1891 historical 2,446 #1,926
1901 historical 2,663 #2,074
1911 historical 2,960 #1,754
1997 modern 3,119 #2,055
1998 modern 3,233 #2,072
1999 modern 3,236 #2,088
2000 modern 3,221 #2,086
2001 modern 3,155 #2,084
2002 modern 3,189 #2,108
2003 modern 3,093 #2,123
2004 modern 3,078 #2,136
2005 modern 3,012 #2,150
2006 modern 3,045 #2,134
2007 modern 3,063 #2,135
2008 modern 3,089 #2,135
2009 modern 3,122 #2,163
2010 modern 3,170 #2,183
2011 modern 3,132 #2,174
2012 modern 3,047 #2,193
2013 modern 3,089 #2,200
2014 modern 3,096 #2,205
2015 modern 3,059 #2,210
2016 modern 3,038 #2,215

Geography

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Where Bagleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Sedgley, Dudley, Rowley Regis and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Dudley, Copeland and Sandwell. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 Sedgley Staffordshire
3 Dudley Staffordshire
4 Rowley Regis Staffordshire
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Dudley 017 Dudley
2 Dudley 022 Dudley
3 Copeland 004 Copeland
4 Dudley 023 Dudley
5 Sandwell 035 Sandwell

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bagley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bagley

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Bagley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Bagley household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Bagley is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

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

Bagley is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bagley falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Bagley

The surname Bagley is believed to have originated in England during the late medieval period, specifically in the counties of Worcestershire and Shropshire. It is derived from the Old English words "baec" meaning "ridge" and "leah" meaning "clearing" or "meadow." The name likely referred to someone who lived near a ridge or clearing in the landscape.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bagley can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Bageleia" in reference to a place in Worcestershire. This suggests that the surname may have initially been a place name before becoming a hereditary surname.

In the 13th century, the name appears in various spellings, such as "Baggelay," "Bageleye," and "Bagelie," reflecting the phonetic variations common in that era. Records from this time period mention individuals with the name Bagley living in various parts of Worcestershire and Shropshire.

One notable figure from history bearing the surname Bagley was Sir William Bagley (c. 1380-1456), a prominent English landowner and Member of Parliament for Worcestershire. Another was John Bagley (c. 1490-1560), a wealthy merchant and benefactor from Bristol, who endowed several charitable institutions in the city.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, the name Bagley was found in various parts of England, including Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, and Somerset. During this period, the spelling "Bagley" became more standardized.

One famous bearer of the name was Sir Edward Bagley (1616-1673), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Southwark, who played a significant role during the English Civil War and the Commonwealth period.

Another notable figure was John Bagley (1678-1737), a prominent English merchant and philanthropist from Bristol, who founded several charitable institutions and bequeathed substantial sums for the education of poor children.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, the Bagley surname continued to be prevalent in various parts of England, particularly in the Midlands and the West Country. Some notable individuals from this period include Sir Richard Bagley (1733-1811), a successful English merchant and landowner, and William Bagley (1769-1846), an English clergyman and author of several theological works.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bagley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bagley 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. Staffordshire leads with 323 Bagleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.43x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 323 4.43x
Middlesex 220 1.02x
Lancashire 206 0.80x
Yorkshire 201 0.94x
Warwickshire 167 3.06x
Shropshire 144 7.71x
Surrey 120 1.14x
Lincolnshire 97 2.81x
Worcestershire 84 2.98x
Durham 75 1.17x
Cheshire 61 1.28x
Essex 53 1.24x
Rutland 50 31.50x
Derbyshire 44 1.30x
Herefordshire 40 4.51x
Buckinghamshire 38 2.91x
Northamptonshire 30 1.48x
Hampshire 26 0.59x
Leicestershire 25 1.04x
Nottinghamshire 23 0.79x
Devon 20 0.44x
Kent 20 0.27x
Sussex 16 0.44x
Brecknockshire 15 3.47x
Suffolk 13 0.49x
Lanarkshire 12 0.17x
Cornwall 11 0.45x
Westmorland 11 2.32x
Norfolk 10 0.30x
Northumberland 7 0.22x
Wiltshire 7 0.37x
Cambridgeshire 6 0.44x
Hertfordshire 6 0.40x
Montgomeryshire 6 1.21x
Oxfordshire 6 0.45x
Gloucestershire 5 0.12x
Glamorgan 4 0.11x
Berkshire 3 0.18x
Somerset 3 0.09x
Caernarfonshire 2 0.23x
Angus 1 0.05x
Cumberland 1 0.05x
Denbighshire 1 0.12x
Flintshire 1 0.17x
Monmouthshire 1 0.06x
Royal Navy 1 0.39x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 74 Bagleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.93x.

Place Total Index
Aston 74 4.93x
Birmingham 66 3.63x
Rowley Regis 50 24.59x
Dudley 40 11.66x
Sedgley 34 12.55x
Lambeth 33 1.75x
Wolverhampton 33 5.88x
Hulme 32 5.98x
Broseley 31 93.40x
Beaconsfield 29 239.47x
Brightside Bierlow 28 6.66x
Fulham London 26 8.29x
Camberwell 21 1.52x
Great Clacton 20 137.65x
Harborne 20 8.55x
Great Grimsby 19 8.66x
West Bromwich 18 4.31x
Wing 18 759.49x
Darlaston 17 16.86x
Eccleston In Prescot 16 12.43x
Islington London 16 0.76x
Newcastle Under Lyme 16 12.39x
Bilston 15 10.61x
Burslem 15 7.18x
Leeds 14 1.16x
Manchester 14 1.21x
Southampton St Mary 14 5.02x
Bethnal Green London 13 1.38x
Runcorn 13 11.82x
Wellington 13 12.39x
Battersea 12 1.51x
Bishopwearmouth 12 2.17x
Hetton Le Hole 12 14.72x
Leek Lowe 12 12.36x
Sheffield 12 1.76x
West Derby 12 1.60x
Ashton In Makerfield 11 15.06x
Brightlingsea 11 45.12x
Hackney London 11 0.91x
Kingstone 11 335.37x
Kirkby Lonsdale 11 85.60x
Ryhall 11 208.33x
Salford 11 1.46x
St Marylebone London 11 0.95x
Warkworth 11 60.11x
Wolstanton 11 4.96x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 10 5.01x
Bunny 10 515.46x
Catterick 10 207.90x
Shenstone 10 53.91x
Shrewsbury St Chad 10 15.26x
Tyrley 10 176.37x
Chelsea London 9 1.38x
Chiswick 9 7.62x
Coventry Holy Trinity 9 5.53x
Dilwyn 9 115.68x
Hunslet 9 2.69x
Kensington London 9 0.75x
Kings Norton 9 3.56x
Litchurch 9 6.61x
Stoke Upon Tern 9 130.62x
Chadderton 8 6.38x
Cheadle 8 8.78x
Clerkenwell London 8 1.57x
Darlington 8 3.22x
Hornsey 8 2.93x
Ince In Makerfield 8 6.70x
Knottingley 8 21.25x
Leicester St Margaret 8 1.37x
Linton 8 89.89x
Newington 8 1.00x
Portsea 8 0.92x
Richmond 8 5.42x
Shoreditch London 8 0.85x
St Anne Soho London 8 6.48x
Stoke Upon Trent 8 1.03x
Stretton 8 544.22x
W Felton 8 101.01x
Wednesbury 8 4.39x
Litherland 7 13.05x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 141
John 129
Thomas 88
George 79
James 77
Edward 43
Joseph 43
Charles 41
Henry 41
Richard 35
Alfred 29
Arthur 25
Robert 19
Harry 17
Samuel 16
Benjamin 12
Ernest 11
Frederick 11
Walter 11
Albert 8
Herbert 8
Edwin 7
Francis 7
Frank 7
David 6
Thos. 6
Michael 5
Isaac 4
Matthew 4
Fred 3
Fredk. 3
Jas. 3
Leonard 3
Patrick 3
Peter 3
Roger 3
Stephen 3
Abraham 2
Amos 2
Andrew 2
Benjm. 2
Cornelius 2
Daniel 2
Donald 2
Fredrick 2
Geo. 2
Mathias 2
Percy 2
Prince 2
Reuben 2

FAQ

Bagley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bagley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,227 people were recorded with the Bagley surname. That placed it at #1,996 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bagley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,038 in 2016. That gives Bagley a modern rank of #2,215.

What does the Bagley surname mean?

An English locational surname derived from any of the various places named Bagley, meaning "badger clearing."

What does the Bagley map show?

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