NameCensus.

UK surname

Basley

A variant of the locational surname derived from a place name meaning "wooded area or forest".

In the 1881 census there were 191 people recorded with the Basley surname, ranking it #13,224 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 116, ranked #28,197, down from #13,224 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Willesden, St Leonard Shoreditch and Lewisham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, Mid Sussex and Chichester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Basley is 570 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 39.3%.

1881 census count

191

Ranked #13,224

Modern count

116

2016, ranked #28,197

Peak year

1861

570 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Basley had 191 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,224 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 116 in 2016, ranked #28,197.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 570 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Basley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Basley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Basley 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 243 #8,983
1861 historical 570 #4,616
1881 historical 191 #13,224
1891 historical 305 #10,976
1901 historical 135 #19,203
1911 historical 177 #16,129
1997 modern 133 #22,705
1998 modern 144 #22,221
1999 modern 143 #22,521
2000 modern 131 #23,672
2001 modern 131 #23,343
2002 modern 123 #24,735
2003 modern 112 #25,948
2004 modern 122 #24,812
2005 modern 122 #24,817
2006 modern 122 #25,010
2007 modern 119 #25,747
2008 modern 121 #25,785
2009 modern 125 #25,823
2010 modern 135 #25,127
2011 modern 129 #25,673
2012 modern 116 #27,550
2013 modern 122 #27,122
2014 modern 123 #27,206
2015 modern 120 #27,561
2016 modern 116 #28,197

Geography

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Where Basleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Willesden, St Leonard Shoreditch, Lewisham, Ealing, Chiswick and Priors Marston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham, Mid Sussex, Chichester, St. Helens and Peterborough. 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 Willesden Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
3 Lewisham London (South Districts)
4 Ealing, Chiswick Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
5 Priors Marston Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 036 County Durham
2 Mid Sussex 016 Mid Sussex
3 Chichester 014 Chichester
4 St. Helens 018 St. Helens
5 Peterborough 017 Peterborough

Forenames

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First names often paired with Basley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Basley

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Basley 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

Basley is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Basley falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Basley

The surname Basley is of English origin, with roots dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have originated from the medieval English personal name 'Barsley', which was derived from the Old English words 'bær' meaning 'bear' and 'leah' meaning 'meadow' or 'clearing'. This suggests that the name may have referred to someone who lived near a bear-inhabited meadow or clearing.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Basley can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire from the year 1327, where it appears as 'Barseleye'. This spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time, with the 'Barseleye' form likely being closer to the original pronunciation.

In the 15th century, the Basley surname appeared in various historical records, including the Hearth Tax Rolls of 1665, where it was listed as 'Baseley'. This form may have been influenced by the place name 'Baxterley', a village in Warwickshire, suggesting a potential connection between the surname and this location.

Notable individuals with the Basley surname include John Basley (1554-1628), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Ratcliffe-on-Soar in Nottinghamshire. Another prominent figure was Thomas Basley (1675-1743), a British politician who served as the Member of Parliament for Southwark from 1715 to 1722.

In the 18th century, the Basley surname was found in various parish records across England. One such example is William Basley (1712-1784), a farmer from Yorkshire, whose family lineage can be traced back to the village of Baxterley.

Another notable individual was Elizabeth Basley (1798-1872), a renowned author and poet from Gloucestershire, who published several works during the Victorian era, including "Poems of Nature and Life" in 1856.

While the Basley surname may have evolved over time and taken on various spellings, its origins can be traced back to the medieval period in England, reflecting a connection to a particular geographic location and potentially referencing the presence of bears in that area.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Basley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Basley 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. Middlesex leads with 55 Basleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.98x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 55 2.98x
Northamptonshire 18 10.38x
Somerset 13 4.38x
Surrey 11 1.22x
Cheshire 10 2.46x
Kent 10 1.59x
Lancashire 9 0.41x
Yorkshire 8 0.44x
Devon 6 1.56x
Dorset 6 4.96x
Staffordshire 6 0.96x
Warwickshire 6 1.29x
Midlothian 4 1.62x
Durham 3 0.55x
Nottinghamshire 3 1.21x
Oxfordshire 3 2.63x
Berkshire 2 1.45x
Channel Islands 2 3.66x
Glamorgan 2 0.62x
Gloucestershire 2 0.55x
Norfolk 2 0.71x
Cardiganshire 1 2.22x
Cornwall 1 0.48x
Essex 1 0.27x
Hampshire 1 0.26x
Hertfordshire 1 0.79x
Royal Navy 1 4.55x
Sussex 1 0.32x
Worcestershire 1 0.42x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Willesden in Middlesex leads with 15 Basleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 86.31x.

Place Total Index
Willesden 15 86.31x
Ealing 11 66.75x
Bradford 8 18.09x
Everton 8 11.47x
Lewisham 8 23.85x
Overstone 7 6363.64x
Wiveliscombe 7 424.24x
Clifton 6 4615.38x
Kensington London 6 5.85x
Longfleet 6 428.57x
Brackley St Peter 5 420.17x
Huntspill 5 413.22x
Mile End Old Town London 5 12.74x
West Bromwich 5 14.03x
Battersea 4 5.90x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 4 4.03x
Islington London 4 2.24x
Frodsham 3 189.87x
Lambeth 3 1.87x
Norwood 3 71.09x
Oxford St Aldate 3 250.00x
Selston 3 107.91x
Wolsingham 3 60.00x
Camberwell 2 1.70x
Harrow 2 70.92x
Leamington Priors 2 17.48x
Llandaff 2 18.73x
Norwich St Benedict 2 158.73x
Priors Marston 2 555.56x
Ratcliffe London 2 19.65x
St George Hanover Square 2 6.16x
St Helier 2 11.24x
St Marylebone London 2 2.03x
Witheridge 2 307.69x
Aldershot 1 7.90x
Ardwick 1 5.07x
Bermondsey 1 1.82x
Brackley St James 1 250.00x
Bredon 1 121.95x
Brighton 1 1.59x
Burton Upon Trent 1 6.87x
Chatham 1 5.78x
Chelsea London 1 1.80x
Cheltenham 1 3.58x
Coventry Holy Trinity 1 7.20x
Everdon 1 277.78x
Finchley 1 14.14x
Folkestone 1 8.20x
Hammersmith London 1 2.20x
Harpenden 1 51.55x
Hellidon 1 500.00x
Honiton 1 47.17x
Little Houghton 1 312.50x
Llangunllo 1 270.27x
Monkton 1 1250.00x
Northampton St Sepulchre 1 11.34x
Norton 1 357.14x
Peterborough 1 7.96x
Pirbright 1 217.39x
Romford 1 17.39x
Royal Navy 1 5.32x
Sale 1 20.04x
St Columb Major 1 57.80x
Stockland 1 181.82x
Wantage 1 45.25x
Warwick St Mary 1 24.75x
Wellington 1 24.88x
White Waltham 1 192.31x
Willand 1 476.19x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 15
Ann 11
Sarah 8
Alice 4
Elizabeth 4
Edith 3
Ellen 3
Emily 3
Emma 3
Hannah 3
Harriett 3
Jane 3
Ada 2
Beatrice 2
Charlotte 2
Dinorah 2
Eliza 2
Florence 2
Lucy 2
Maria 2
Susan 2
Amelia 1
Augusta 1
Bessie 1
Blanche 1
C. 1
Caroline 1
Catharine 1
Clara 1
Dora 1
E. 1
Elizh. 1
Ethel 1
F. 1
Hanah 1
Julia 1
Katherine 1
Louisa 1
Lourina 1
Martha 1
Maud 1
Minnie 1
Nellie 1
Phillipa 1
Rose 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 14
John 11
James 8
Thomas 7
George 5
Henry 4
Samuel 3
Charles 2
Robert 2
Arthur 1
Chares 1
Edward 1
Edwd. 1
Edwin 1
Esau 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
Harold 1
Jas.Lawrence 1
Joseph 1
Mark 1
Oscar 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Richard 1
Robbart 1
Stanley 1
Stephen 1
T. 1
Thos. 1
W. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Basley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Basley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 191 people were recorded with the Basley surname. That placed it at #13,224 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Basley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 116 in 2016. That gives Basley a modern rank of #28,197.

What does the Basley surname mean?

A variant of the locational surname derived from a place name meaning "wooded area or forest".

What does the Basley map show?

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