NameCensus.

UK surname

Bardsley

A locational surname derived from a place in Cheshire, England, meaning "clearing by the residence."

In the 1881 census there were 2,268 people recorded with the Bardsley surname, ranking it #1,970 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,923, ranked #3,319, down from #1,970 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Stockport and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tameside and Oldham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bardsley is 2,806 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 15.2%.

1881 census count

2,268

Ranked #1,970

Modern count

1,923

2016, ranked #3,319

Peak year

1911

2,806 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bardsley had 2,268 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,970 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,923 in 2016, ranked #3,319.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,806 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Bardsley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bardsley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bardsley 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 1,557 #1,845
1861 historical 1,514 #1,865
1881 historical 2,268 #1,970
1891 historical 2,479 #1,911
1901 historical 2,699 #2,056
1911 historical 2,806 #1,852
1997 modern 1,990 #3,066
1998 modern 2,082 #3,062
1999 modern 2,103 #3,058
2000 modern 2,063 #3,093
2001 modern 2,016 #3,094
2002 modern 2,025 #3,140
2003 modern 1,970 #3,154
2004 modern 1,981 #3,142
2005 modern 1,930 #3,177
2006 modern 1,917 #3,209
2007 modern 1,951 #3,190
2008 modern 1,963 #3,187
2009 modern 1,981 #3,232
2010 modern 2,002 #3,279
2011 modern 1,975 #3,265
2012 modern 1,938 #3,268
2013 modern 1,949 #3,311
2014 modern 1,955 #3,318
2015 modern 1,924 #3,331
2016 modern 1,923 #3,319

Geography

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Where Bardsleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Stockport, Manchester and Ashton-under-Lyne. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Tameside and Oldham. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Stockport Cheshire
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Stockport Lancashire
5 Ashton-under-Lyne Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Tameside 018 Tameside
2 Tameside 004 Tameside
3 Tameside 020 Tameside
4 Oldham 028 Oldham
5 Tameside 017 Tameside

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bardsley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bardsley

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Bardsley 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

Bardsley 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

Bardsley falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Bardsley

The surname Bardsley originates from England, specifically in the county of Lancashire. It dates back to the 13th century and is derived from the Old English words "bere" meaning barley and "leah" meaning a meadow or clearing. This suggests that the name likely referred to someone who lived near a barley field or meadow.

The earliest recorded spelling of the name appears to be Bernardesleia, found in the Lancashire Pipe Rolls of 1246. This version of the name is believed to be derived from the personal name Bernard, combined with the Old English word "leah". Over time, this evolved into the more recognizable Bardsley spelling.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, there is a record of a place called Bernedeslau, which is thought to be an early reference to the area that later became known as Bardsley. This further supports the connection between the name and its geographical origins.

One of the earliest known individuals with the Bardsley surname was John de Bardsley, who was recorded in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Tottington in Lancashire in 1324. Another early record is that of Richard de Bardsley, mentioned in the Lancashire Inquisitions in 1376.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Bardsley family was well-established in the area of Middleton, near Manchester. Notable individuals from this time period include James Bardsley (1583-1648), a prominent landowner and yeoman, and his son, also named James Bardsley (1617-1692), who served as a captain in the Parliamentary army during the English Civil War.

In the 18th century, a branch of the Bardsley family settled in the town of Oldham, where they became influential in the local textile industry. One of the most successful members of this branch was Samuel Bardsley (1723-1792), a renowned calico printer and entrepreneur.

Another notable figure was James Bardsley (1801-1876), a civil engineer who played a crucial role in the construction of several major railways in England, including the London and Birmingham Railway and the Great Western Railway.

Throughout history, the Bardsley surname has been documented in various forms, including Bardesly, Bardsley, and Bardisley, reflecting the evolution of spelling and pronunciation over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bardsley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bardsley 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 1,553 Bardsleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.91x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 1,553 5.91x
Cheshire 496 10.15x
Yorkshire 88 0.40x
Derbyshire 48 1.39x
Middlesex 15 0.07x
Surrey 10 0.09x
Lincolnshire 6 0.17x
Renfrewshire 6 0.35x
Essex 5 0.11x
Leicestershire 5 0.20x
Norfolk 5 0.15x
Nottinghamshire 5 0.17x
Worcestershire 5 0.17x
Gloucestershire 4 0.09x
Lanarkshire 4 0.06x
Warwickshire 4 0.07x
Denbighshire 2 0.24x
Durham 2 0.03x
Inverness-shire 2 0.30x
Sussex 2 0.05x
Hampshire 1 0.02x
Westmorland 1 0.21x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Oldham in Lancashire leads with 399 Bardsleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 47.07x.

Place Total Index
Oldham 399 47.07x
Ashton Under Lyne 285 49.65x
Dukinfield 118 52.27x
Stockport 102 40.57x
Hyde 91 63.12x
Haughton 84 219.26x
Denton 77 132.30x
Manchester 75 6.35x
Heaton Norris 69 46.16x
Cheadle 56 60.01x
Chadderton 44 34.27x
Pendleton In Salford 44 14.06x
Newton 39 19.27x
Saddleworth 39 23.05x
Hulme 33 6.02x
Stayley 31 55.51x
Gorton 30 12.15x
Glossop Dale 27 16.64x
Castleton 26 9.91x
Chorlton On Medlock 24 5.75x
Royton 23 28.63x
Openshaw 21 17.07x
Tonge 19 34.48x
Failsworth 17 28.29x
Godley 16 151.66x
Salford 16 2.07x
Crompton 15 20.05x
Habergham Eaves 15 6.25x
Newton In Ashton Under 15 31.11x
Levenshulme 14 51.79x
Sale 14 23.36x
Broughton In Salford 12 5.00x
Droylsden 12 14.01x
Wardleworth 11 7.33x
Reddish 10 27.64x
Kingston On Thames 9 3.47x
Little Bolton 9 2.67x
Beswick 8 11.91x
Finchley 8 9.43x
Horton In Bradford 8 2.34x
Lostock 8 135.14x
Macclesfield 8 3.68x
Middleton In Oldham 8 10.16x
North Meols 8 3.11x
Pennington In Leigh 8 15.88x
Skircoat 8 9.25x
Ludworth 7 42.89x
Newton 7 92.35x
Ardwick 6 2.53x
Bramhall 6 29.64x
Clee With Weelsby 6 7.74x
Heap 6 4.31x
West Greenock 6 1.95x
Accrington 5 2.09x
Barton Upon Irwell 5 2.53x
Bredbury 5 17.68x
Chester St Oswald 5 5.65x
Dudley 5 1.42x
Everton 5 0.60x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 5 4.89x
Loughborough 5 4.49x
Toxteth Park 5 0.56x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 5 6.61x
Beard Ollerset Whitle 4 17.54x
Bootle Cum Linacre 4 1.92x
Brinnington 4 8.76x
Church 4 10.78x
Eccleston In Prescot 4 3.03x
Garforth 4 23.82x
Gorbals 4 9.41x
Hayfield 4 18.81x
Leyton Low 4 4.50x
Lydney 4 17.85x
Sedburgh 4 43.76x
Stretford 4 2.77x
Thurlstone 4 18.49x
Ulverston 4 5.23x
Birmingham 3 0.16x
Nottingham St Mary 3 0.39x
Withington 3 3.55x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 203
Sarah 118
Elizabeth 106
Hannah 77
Jane 54
Eliza 41
Alice 40
Ann 33
Martha 33
Emma 31
Margaret 30
Annie 29
Ellen 21
Ada 18
Betty 17
Harriet 17
Emily 13
Edith 9
Fanny 9
Frances 8
Louisa 8
Agnes 7
Bertha 7
Caroline 7
Charlotte 7
Esther 7
Florence 7
Maria 7
Nancy 7
Catherine 6
Isabella 6
Matilda 6
Rebecca 6
Selina 6
Susannah 5
Amy 4
Anne 4
Betsy 4
Clara 4
Edna 4
Elizth. 4
Helena 4
Gertrude 3
Henrietta 3
Jemima 3
Lily 3
Lucy 3
Nanny 3
Rachael 3
Rose 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 175
William 123
James 107
Joseph 78
George 67
Samuel 61
Thomas 54
Robert 37
Henry 30
Edward 19
Charles 17
Albert 14
Harry 14
Herbert 13
Alfred 12
Arthur 12
Ernest 12
David 10
Fred 10
Walter 10
Edwin 9
Frank 9
Ralph 9
Isaac 8
Richard 7
Benjamin 6
Isaiah 6
Tom 6
Wm. 6
Andrew 5
Daniel 5
Elijah 5
Frederick 5
Aaron 4
Joshua 4
Levi 4
Moses 4
Wright 4
Abraham 3
Geo. 3
Jacob 3
Jno. 3
Joel 3
Jonathan 3
Luke 3
Squire 3
Ben 2
Bernard 2
Reuben 2
Richd. 2

FAQ

Bardsley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bardsley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,268 people were recorded with the Bardsley surname. That placed it at #1,970 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bardsley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,923 in 2016. That gives Bardsley a modern rank of #3,319.

What does the Bardsley surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place in Cheshire, England, meaning "clearing by the residence."

What does the Bardsley map show?

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