UK surname
A variant spelling of the French surname Belloy, derived from a place name based on the Old French word bel meaning "beautiful" and lieu meaning "place".
In the 1881 census there were 14 people recorded with the Beley surname, ranking it #31,604 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2, ranked #38,825, down from #31,604 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Bunbury, Rushall and Isleworth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Beley is 116 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 85.7%.
1881 census count
14
Ranked #31,604
Modern count
2
2016, ranked #38,825
Peak year
1861
116 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Beley surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Beley 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 | 25 | #28,853 |
| 1861 | historical | 116 | #18,751 |
| 1881 | historical | 14 | #31,604 |
| 1891 | historical | 29 | #31,963 |
| 1901 | historical | 7 | #33,435 |
| 1911 | historical | 14 | #32,045 |
| 1997 | modern | 6 | #37,704 |
| 1998 | modern | 4 | #38,082 |
| 1999 | modern | 7 | #37,513 |
| 2000 | modern | 1 | #38,790 |
| 2001 | modern | 1 | #38,647 |
| 2002 | modern | 3 | #38,152 |
| 2003 | modern | 2 | #38,424 |
| 2004 | modern | 2 | #38,464 |
| 2005 | modern | 1 | #38,814 |
| 2006 | modern | 1 | #38,879 |
| 2007 | modern | 2 | #38,617 |
| 2008 | modern | 2 | #38,673 |
| 2009 | modern | 1 | #38,998 |
| 2010 | modern | 1 | #39,020 |
| 2011 | modern | 1 | #39,015 |
| 2012 | modern | 2 | #38,754 |
| 2013 | modern | 2 | #38,761 |
| 2014 | modern | 2 | #38,791 |
| 2015 | modern | 3 | #38,558 |
| 2016 | modern | 2 | #38,825 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Bunbury, Rushall, Isleworth, South Weald and Walton-on-the-Hill. 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 | Bunbury | Cheshire |
| 2 | Rushall | Staffordshire |
| 3 | Isleworth | Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts) |
| 4 | South Weald | Essex |
| 5 | Walton-on-the-Hill | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Beley 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 Beley, 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 Beley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Beley 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, Beley 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 Beley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Beley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname BELEY is believed to have originated in France, possibly in the region of Normandy, during the Middle Ages. It may have been derived from the Old French word "bel," meaning "beautiful" or "handsome," or from the place name "Belley," a town located in the Ain department of eastern France.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name BELEY can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landowners and tenants in England compiled in 1086. This suggests that individuals with this surname may have arrived in England from Normandy following the Norman Conquest of 1066.
During the 13th century, a notable figure named Jean BELEY was mentioned in historical records as a respected scholar and cleric in the city of Paris. He was born around 1220 and is known for his contributions to the study of canon law.
In the 14th century, a French nobleman named Gilles BELEY was recorded as a knight who participated in the Hundred Years' War against England. He served under the French king Charles V and was renowned for his bravery and skill in battle.
In the 16th century, a prominent figure named Pierre BELEY was born in the town of Beaune, located in the Burgundy region of France. He was a successful merchant and landowner, and his name appears in various business records and property deeds from that time period.
During the 17th century, a French artist named Nicolas BELEY gained recognition for his exceptional skills in portraiture and landscape painting. He was born in Paris in 1615 and spent much of his career working for wealthy patrons and the French nobility.
Another notable individual with the surname BELEY was Jacques BELEY, a French architect who lived in the 18th century. He was responsible for designing several prominent buildings and churches in the city of Lyon, including the Church of St. Bruno.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Beley 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 6 Beleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.11x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 6 | 4.11x |
| Essex | 4 | 13.87x |
| Staffordshire | 2 | 4.06x |
| Kent | 1 | 2.01x |
| Surrey | 1 | 1.41x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Isleworth in Middlesex leads with 6 Beleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 923.08x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Isleworth | 6 | 923.08x |
| Manningtree | 4 | 8000.00x |
| Handsworth | 2 | 163.93x |
| Frimley | 1 | 500.00x |
| Tonbridge | 1 | 55.56x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Beley 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 Beley 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 Beley households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Retired Merchant | 2 |
| Scholar | 2 |
| Butcher | 1 |
| Cook (Domestic) | 1 |
| Gentlemans Wife | 1 |
| Lieutenant Bengal Staff Corps | 1 |
| Vicar | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 14 people were recorded with the Beley surname. That placed it at #31,604 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 2 in 2016. That gives Beley a modern rank of #38,825.
A variant spelling of the French surname Belloy, derived from a place name based on the Old French word bel meaning "beautiful" and lieu meaning "place".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Beley 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.