NameCensus.

UK surname

Barcley

A locational surname referring to someone who resided near a meadow or clearing.

In the 1881 census there were 117 people recorded with the Barcley surname, ranking it #18,026 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 24, ranked #36,392, down from #18,026 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ruabon, Govan Combination and Jarrow. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Barcley is 170 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 79.5%.

1881 census count

117

Ranked #18,026

Modern count

24

2016, ranked #36,392

Peak year

1861

170 bearers

Map years

4

1851 to 1891

Key insights

  • Barcley had 117 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,026 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 24 in 2016, ranked #36,392.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 170 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is No data.

Barcley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Barcley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Barcley 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 139 #13,659
1861 historical 170 #13,763
1881 historical 117 #18,026
1891 historical 142 #18,995
1901 historical 86 #24,508
1911 historical 29 #30,190
1997 modern 21 #35,692
1998 modern 23 #35,603
1999 modern 23 #35,612
2000 modern 24 #35,498
2001 modern 24 #35,357
2002 modern 24 #35,520
2003 modern 23 #35,650
2004 modern 25 #35,610
2005 modern 25 #35,752
2006 modern 25 #35,903
2007 modern 22 #36,213
2008 modern 25 #36,072
2009 modern 27 #36,045
2010 modern 30 #35,967
2011 modern 25 #36,252
2012 modern 26 #36,166
2013 modern 25 #36,276
2014 modern 22 #36,496
2015 modern 23 #36,424
2016 modern 24 #36,392

Geography

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Where Barcleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ruabon, Govan Combination, Jarrow, Edinburgh and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Ruabon Denbighshire
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Jarrow Durham
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 No data No data

Forenames

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First names often paired with Barcley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Barcley

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

No data

Group

No data

Nationally, the Barcley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Barcley household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

No data

Group

No data

Within London, Barcley is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Barcley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Barcley

The surname Barcley has its origins in the Anglo-Saxon era of Britain. It is derived from the Old English words 'bær' meaning 'bear' and 'leah' meaning 'meadow' or 'clearing'. The name likely referred to someone who lived near a bear's meadow or clearing, making it a locational surname.

The earliest recorded spelling of the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1176, where it is listed as 'Berchelai'. Similar early spellings include 'Barkeley' and 'Barkeley'. The name is also found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is recorded as 'Berchelai'.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Robert de Barcley, who lived in Gloucestershire in the 13th century. Another notable figure was Sir Thomas Barcley, a 14th-century English knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War.

In the 15th century, the Barcley family established themselves as landowners in Somerset, where they held the manor of Barcley near Wrington. One of the most famous members of this family was Alexander Barcley (c. 1475-1552), a poet and priest who translated several works from Latin and French into English.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the name spread to Scotland, where it was sometimes spelled 'Barkley'. One notable Scot with this surname was John Barcley (1582-1621), a writer and satirist who was born in Pont-à-Mousson, Lorraine.

Other notable bearers of the Barcley surname include Robert Barcley (1648-1690), a Scottish Quaker writer and theologian, and Sir George Barcley (1776-1854), a British naval officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Barcley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Barcley 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. Midlothian leads with 33 Barcleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.59x.

County Total Index
Midlothian 33 21.59x
Lanarkshire 20 5.42x
Lancashire 8 0.59x
Northumberland 7 4.12x
Hampshire 6 2.57x
Durham 5 1.47x
Ayrshire 4 4.68x
Renfrewshire 4 4.52x
Yorkshire 4 0.35x
Aberdeenshire 3 2.84x
Angus 3 2.84x
Kent 3 0.77x
Surrey 3 0.54x
Middlesex 2 0.18x
Banffshire 1 4.22x
Cheshire 1 0.40x
Denbighshire 1 2.32x
East Lothian 1 6.62x
Glamorgan 1 0.50x
Merionethshire 1 4.79x
Monmouthshire 1 1.21x
Norfolk 1 0.57x
Oxfordshire 1 1.42x
Perthshire 1 1.95x
Shetland 1 8.58x
Shropshire 1 1.01x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. North Leith in Midlothian leads with 15 Barcleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 212.16x.

Place Total Index
North Leith 15 212.16x
Govan 13 14.24x
South Leith 10 58.14x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 8 13.01x
Shotts 6 135.75x
St Thomas Winchester 6 363.64x
Wallsend 6 111.52x
Port Glasgow 4 93.46x
Wakefield 4 46.08x
Whickham 4 128.21x
Beith 3 117.65x
Frimley 3 189.87x
Haslingden 3 53.48x
Bidborough 2 1818.18x
Liff Benvie 2 12.46x
Aberdeen Old Machar 1 4.53x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 1 5.06x
Bedwellty 1 6.87x
Bootle Cum Linacre 1 9.30x
Cardiff St Mary 1 9.14x
Cliffe 1 113.64x
Crimond 1 303.03x
Dalmellington 1 39.84x
Ellesmere 1 59.17x
Gamrie 1 37.88x
Garston 1 25.00x
Great Yarmouth 1 6.88x
Gresford Gwersyllt 1 74.63x
Harrow On The Hill 1 43.86x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 1 6.80x
Lethendy 1 1666.67x
Liverpool 1 1.22x
Llanfachreth 1 285.71x
Menmuir 1 333.33x
North South Gosforth 1 454.55x
Old Monkland 1 6.83x
Oxford St Giles 1 29.76x
Poplar London 1 4.64x
Prestonkirk 1 131.58x
Stretford 1 13.42x
Wallasey 1 116.28x
Widnes 1 10.24x
Yell Mid 1 256.41x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 3
Mary 3
Annie 2
Alice 1
Ann 1
Caroline 1
Catharine 1
Catherine 1
Cecely 1
Clerica 1
Emma 1
Fanny 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Hellen 1
Jane 1
Janet 1
Jeannet 1
Mable 1
Margaret 1
Martha 1
Ruth 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 4
John 4
James 3
Henry 2
Alfred 1
Alxr. 1
Andrew 1
Charles 1
Daniel 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Barcley households.

FAQ

Barcley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Barcley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 117 people were recorded with the Barcley surname. That placed it at #18,026 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Barcley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 24 in 2016. That gives Barcley a modern rank of #36,392.

What does the Barcley surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone who resided near a meadow or clearing.

What does the Barcley map show?

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