UK surname
An English surname derived from a habitational name for someone from Barlow or a similar place.
In the 1881 census there were 52 people recorded with the Berley surname, ranking it #26,281 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 8, ranked #37,829, down from #26,281 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Tunbridge, Bidborough, Eccles and Sheffield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Berley is 287 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 84.6%.
1881 census count
52
Ranked #26,281
Modern count
8
2016, ranked #37,829
Peak year
1861
287 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Berley surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Berley surname density by area, 1891 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 | 61 | #22,412 |
| 1861 | historical | 287 | #8,773 |
| 1881 | historical | 52 | #26,281 |
| 1891 | historical | 178 | #16,264 |
| 1901 | historical | 84 | #24,759 |
| 1911 | historical | 56 | #27,216 |
| 1997 | modern | 6 | #37,704 |
| 1998 | modern | 8 | #37,334 |
| 1999 | modern | 9 | #37,217 |
| 2000 | modern | 8 | #37,264 |
| 2001 | modern | 6 | #37,456 |
| 2002 | modern | 9 | #37,051 |
| 2003 | modern | 10 | #36,964 |
| 2004 | modern | 12 | #36,835 |
| 2005 | modern | 9 | #37,302 |
| 2006 | modern | 8 | #37,481 |
| 2007 | modern | 8 | #37,572 |
| 2008 | modern | 8 | #37,597 |
| 2009 | modern | 10 | #37,446 |
| 2010 | modern | 10 | #37,517 |
| 2011 | modern | 9 | #37,598 |
| 2012 | modern | 7 | #37,854 |
| 2013 | modern | 8 | #37,767 |
| 2014 | modern | 7 | #37,929 |
| 2015 | modern | 7 | #37,920 |
| 2016 | modern | 8 | #37,829 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Tunbridge, Bidborough, Eccles, Sheffield, Monks Eleigh and Kingston-on-Thames. 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 | Tunbridge, Bidborough | Kent |
| 2 | Eccles | Lancashire |
| 3 | Sheffield | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 4 | Monks Eleigh | Suffolk |
| 5 | Kingston-on-Thames | Surrey |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Berley 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 Berley, 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 Berley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Berley 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, Berley 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 Berley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Berley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname BERLEY is of English origin, with its roots tracing back to the medieval period. The name is thought to have originated from a place name referring to a berry-producing area, possibly derived from the Old English words "beri" meaning berry and "leah" meaning a clearing or meadow.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Berileg" in reference to a settlement in Berkshire. This suggests that the name was already established in England by the late 11th century.
In the 13th century, records show variations such as "Berilegh" and "Berileye," indicating the evolution of the name's spelling over time. The name BERLEY is believed to have emerged from these earlier forms.
Notable individuals bearing the surname BERLEY include:
1. John Berley (c. 1400-1460), an English landowner and member of Parliament for Berkshire during the reign of Henry VI.
2. Richard Berley (c. 1530-1598), an English clergyman and author who served as the rector of Swinbrook, Oxfordshire.
3. Thomas Berley (c. 1570-1642), an English merchant and ship owner who was involved in the early colonial trade with Virginia.
4. Elizabeth Berley (c. 1620-1698), an English Quaker minister and author who traveled extensively to spread her religious teachings.
5. William Berley (c. 1780-1854), an English architect known for his work on several notable buildings in London, including the Royal College of Surgeons.
The name BERLEY has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Berley Heath in Worcestershire and Berley Moor in Yorkshire, further emphasizing its geographic origins.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Berley 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. Yorkshire leads with 24 Berleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.87x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 24 | 4.87x |
| Lancashire | 6 | 1.02x |
| Suffolk | 6 | 9.91x |
| Surrey | 5 | 2.06x |
| Middlesex | 3 | 0.60x |
| Isle of Man | 2 | 21.67x |
| Devon | 1 | 0.97x |
| Essex | 1 | 1.02x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 1.03x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 2.92x |
| Somerset | 1 | 1.25x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Handsworth in Yorkshire leads with 8 Berleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 615.38x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Handsworth | 8 | 615.38x |
| Heeley | 7 | 466.67x |
| Onehouse | 6 | 10000.00x |
| Toxteth Park | 5 | 25.03x |
| Kingston On Thames | 4 | 68.73x |
| Ecclesall Bierlow | 3 | 29.94x |
| Sheffield | 3 | 19.12x |
| Nether Hallam | 2 | 29.99x |
| Onchan | 2 | 75.19x |
| Birkdale | 1 | 67.11x |
| Bristol St Philip Jacob | 1 | 10.89x |
| Clapham | 1 | 16.08x |
| Exeter St Olave | 1 | 769.23x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 3.62x |
| Leyton | 1 | 59.17x |
| Rotherham | 1 | 35.97x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 3.77x |
| Thorley | 1 | 1428.57x |
| Tottenham | 1 | 12.63x |
| Williton | 1 | 370.37x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Berley 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 Berley 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 Berley households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 10 |
| Accountants Clerk | 2 |
| Cab Driver | 2 |
| Edge Tool Grinder | 2 |
| Scholor | 2 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Boot Finisher | 1 |
| Bus Conductor Cab Man | 1 |
| Butcher | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Colliery Clerk | 1 |
| Cutler | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Errand Boy | 1 |
| Formerly Milliner | 1 |
| General Smith | 1 |
| Grocer Assistant | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Nurse (Dom) | 1 |
| Nurse Maid | 1 |
| Nursery Governess (D 8) | 1 |
| Rag Sorter | 1 |
| Solicitors Clerk General | 1 |
| Solicitors General Clerk | 1 |
| Wollen Drapers Assistant | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 52 people were recorded with the Berley surname. That placed it at #26,281 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 8 in 2016. That gives Berley a modern rank of #37,829.
An English surname derived from a habitational name for someone from Barlow or a similar place.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Berley 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.