NameCensus.

UK surname

Birchley

In the 1881 census there were 162 people recorded with the Birchley surname, ranking it #14,746 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 227, ranked #17,992, down from #14,746 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Great Malvern, Madresfield, Kings Norton and Tewkesbury. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Shepway, Rotherham and Birmingham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Birchley is 301 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 40.1%.

1881 census count

162

Ranked #14,746

Modern count

227

2016, ranked #17,992

Peak year

1911

301 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Birchley had 162 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,746 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 227 in 2016, ranked #17,992.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 301 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Birchley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Birchley surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Birchley 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 142 #13,428
1861 historical 124 #17,797
1881 historical 162 #14,746
1891 historical 178 #16,264
1901 historical 241 #13,417
1911 historical 301 #11,422
1997 modern 270 #14,515
1998 modern 271 #14,883
1999 modern 267 #15,097
2000 modern 266 #15,096
2001 modern 276 #14,507
2002 modern 263 #15,277
2003 modern 257 #15,341
2004 modern 248 #15,779
2005 modern 225 #16,831
2006 modern 226 #16,891
2007 modern 224 #17,193
2008 modern 230 #17,033
2009 modern 238 #17,002
2010 modern 243 #17,100
2011 modern 240 #17,093
2012 modern 223 #17,852
2013 modern 228 #17,864
2014 modern 230 #17,872
2015 modern 230 #17,795
2016 modern 227 #17,992

Geography

Back to top

Where Birchleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Great Malvern, Madresfield, Kings Norton, Tewkesbury, Worcester St Peter and Bolton-le-Moors. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Shepway, Rotherham, Birmingham, North Devon and Gloucester. 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 Great Malvern, Madresfield Worcestershire
2 Kings Norton Worcestershire
3 Tewkesbury Gloucestershire
4 Worcester St Peter Worcestershire
5 Bolton-le-Moors Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Shepway 014 Shepway
2 Rotherham 027 Rotherham
3 Birmingham 100 Birmingham
4 North Devon 004 North Devon
5 Gloucester 002 Gloucester

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Birchley

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Birchley

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Birchley, 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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Birchley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Birchley household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Birchley is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Birchley is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Birchley falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Birchley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Birchley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Birchley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Birchley 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. Worcestershire leads with 40 Birchleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.38x.

County Total Index
Worcestershire 40 19.38x
Warwickshire 25 6.27x
Gloucestershire 24 7.74x
Herefordshire 24 37.04x
Kent 17 3.15x
Middlesex 9 0.57x
Lancashire 6 0.32x
Sussex 4 1.50x
Lincolnshire 3 1.19x
Yorkshire 3 0.19x
Bedfordshire 2 2.44x
Devon 2 0.61x
Cheshire 1 0.29x
Derbyshire 1 0.40x
Shropshire 1 0.73x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 16 Birchleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.05x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 16 12.05x
Worcester St Peter 14 358.06x
Cheltenham 12 50.19x
Kings Norton 10 54.05x
Tewkesbury 10 361.01x
Tupsley 9 1636.36x
Aston 7 6.38x
Leigh 7 280.00x
Swanscombe 7 289.26x
Upper Sapey 7 4117.65x
Gravesend 5 109.65x
Welland 5 1063.83x
Westminster St James 5 30.79x
Dartford 4 72.60x
Little Bolton 4 16.59x
Aiskew 3 666.67x
Great Grimsby 3 18.70x
St Martin In Fields 3 31.71x
Avenbury 2 909.09x
Aylton 2 4000.00x
Bedford St Peter 2 93.90x
Colwall 2 250.00x
Edgbaston 2 16.18x
Plymouth St Andrew 2 7.89x
Brighton 1 1.86x
Broadwater 1 16.37x
Castlemorton 1 250.00x
Claines 1 17.67x
Ercall Magna 1 102.04x
Erith 1 18.83x
Frant 1 52.91x
Gloucester Kingsholm St 1 86.21x
Great Malvern 1 23.20x
Hereford St Peter 1 57.80x
Ledbury 1 44.84x
Liscard 1 15.92x
Lullington 1 250.00x
Newent 1 63.29x
Powick 1 69.93x
Salford 1 1.81x
Shadwell London 1 22.62x
West Derby 1 1.82x
Worthing 1 344.83x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 13
John 10
George 7
Richard 4
Thomas 3
Alfred 2
Augustus 2
Benjamin 2
Edward 2
Frank 2
Fredk. 2
Henry 2
Herbert 2
Percy 2
Samuel 2
Albert 1
Allen 1
Arthur 1
Bertie 1
Cecil 1
Donald 1
Earnest 1
Edgar 1
Ernest 1
Fredrick 1
Howard 1
Hubert 1
Jack 1
James 1
Joseph 1
Lionel 1
Nathaniel 1
Osmond 1
Robert 1
Rowland 1
Samule 1
Septimas 1
Stanley 1
W.H. 1
Walter 1
Willaim 1

FAQ

Birchley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Birchley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 162 people were recorded with the Birchley surname. That placed it at #14,746 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Birchley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 227 in 2016. That gives Birchley a modern rank of #17,992.

What does the Birchley map show?

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