UK surname
A locational surname derived from a place name, likely from an area in England.
In the 1881 census there were 32 people recorded with the Bedley surname, ranking it #29,082 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 6, ranked #38,110, down from #29,082 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Lewisham and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bedley is 113 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 81.3%.
1881 census count
32
Ranked #29,082
Modern count
6
2016, ranked #38,110
Peak year
1861
113 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Bedley surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Bedley surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 59 | #22,756 |
| 1861 | historical | 113 | #19,151 |
| 1881 | historical | 32 | #29,082 |
| 1891 | historical | 48 | #30,447 |
| 1901 | historical | 40 | #29,678 |
| 1911 | historical | 25 | #30,654 |
| 1997 | modern | 7 | #37,533 |
| 1998 | modern | 8 | #37,334 |
| 1999 | modern | 6 | #37,696 |
| 2000 | modern | 7 | #37,430 |
| 2001 | modern | 5 | #37,652 |
| 2002 | modern | 6 | #37,532 |
| 2003 | modern | 6 | #37,586 |
| 2004 | modern | 4 | #38,013 |
| 2005 | modern | 5 | #37,885 |
| 2006 | modern | 6 | #37,788 |
| 2007 | modern | 5 | #38,004 |
| 2008 | modern | 4 | #38,216 |
| 2009 | modern | 4 | #38,287 |
| 2010 | modern | 5 | #38,186 |
| 2011 | modern | 4 | #38,338 |
| 2012 | modern | 6 | #38,008 |
| 2013 | modern | 5 | #38,195 |
| 2014 | modern | 5 | #38,228 |
| 2015 | modern | 5 | #38,221 |
| 2016 | modern | 6 | #38,110 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Lewisham, Lambeth, St George, Hanover Square, Buckingham Palace and Washington. 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.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 2 | Lewisham | London (South Districts) |
| 3 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 4 | St George, Hanover Square, Buckingham Palace | London (West Districts) |
| 5 | Washington | Durham |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Bedley surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Bedley, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Bedley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Bedley household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Bedley 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
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bedley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Bedley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Bedley is believed to have originated in England, particularly in the county of Yorkshire. It is thought to derive from the Old English words "bede," meaning prayer, and "leah," meaning a meadow or clearing in a forest. This suggests that the name may have referred to a meadow or clearing where religious services or prayers were held.
Records indicate that the Bedley surname can be traced back to the 13th century in Yorkshire. One of the earliest documented instances of the name is found in the Yorkshire Assize Rolls of 1297, where a person named William de Bedelay is mentioned.
The name Bedley is also closely associated with the village of Bedlam in West Yorkshire, which was once spelled as "Bedelawe" or "Bedlowe." It is possible that the surname originated from this place name, with early bearers of the name hailing from this area.
During the Middle Ages, the Bedley name appeared in various records and manuscripts, including the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire in the 14th century. Some notable individuals with the Bedley surname from this period include John Bedley, who was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1379, and Robert Bedley, mentioned in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire in 1428.
In the 16th century, the Bedley surname gained prominence with the rise of the Bedley family in Yorkshire. One notable member was Richard Bedley (c. 1510-1580), a wealthy landowner and merchant who served as the Mayor of York in 1568.
Another notable figure was Sir William Bedley (1560-1632), a member of the English gentry and a Member of Parliament for Yorkshire in the early 17th century. He was also a supporter of the English Civil War and fought on the side of the Parliamentarians.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Bedley surname spread beyond Yorkshire to other parts of England, as well as to Ireland and Scotland. One notable bearer of the name was Captain John Bedley (1640-1705), an English naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Anglo-Dutch Wars.
In the 19th century, the Bedley surname continued to be found in various parts of the United Kingdom. One prominent individual was Reverend Thomas Bedley (1790-1868), an English clergyman and author who served as the Vicar of Eccleshill in Yorkshire.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bedley surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 9 Bedleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.88x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 9 | 2.88x |
| Surrey | 8 | 5.26x |
| Kent | 4 | 3.76x |
| Lancashire | 4 | 1.08x |
| Yorkshire | 3 | 0.97x |
| Devon | 1 | 1.54x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 1.63x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 1.56x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 2.45x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 8 Bedleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.40x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lambeth | 8 | 29.40x |
| Bethnal Green London | 5 | 36.90x |
| Lewisham | 4 | 70.42x |
| Liverpool | 4 | 17.79x |
| Attercliffe Cum Darnall | 3 | 104.17x |
| Chelsea London | 3 | 31.91x |
| Bristol St James In | 1 | 111.11x |
| Islington London | 1 | 3.31x |
| Littleham | 1 | 212.77x |
| Portsea | 1 | 7.98x |
| Worcester St Swithin | 1 | 1250.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Bedley surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Bedley surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Bedley households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 9 |
| Boot & Shoe Maker | 1 |
| Cook Domestic | 1 |
| Draper's Assistant | 1 |
| Gilder | 1 |
| Greengrocer | 1 |
| Joiner | 1 |
| Machinist | 1 |
| No Occupation | 1 |
| Police Constable | 1 |
| Servant | 1 |
| Shoe Manufacturer | 1 |
| Tin Smith | 1 |
| Wife | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 32 people were recorded with the Bedley surname. That placed it at #29,082 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 6 in 2016. That gives Bedley a modern rank of #38,110.
A locational surname derived from a place name, likely from an area in England.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Bedley bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.