NameCensus.

UK surname

Bleakley

A topographic surname originally describing someone who lived near a bleak, desolate, or wind-swept area.

In the 1881 census there were 630 people recorded with the Bleakley surname, ranking it #5,630 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 662, ranked #8,057, down from #5,630 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Radcliffe, Dean and Bolton-le-Moors. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Three Rivers, Wolverhampton and South Staffordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bleakley is 734 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 5.1%.

1881 census count

630

Ranked #5,630

Modern count

662

2016, ranked #8,057

Peak year

1901

734 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bleakley had 630 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,630 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 662 in 2016, ranked #8,057.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 734 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Bleakley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bleakley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bleakley 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 295 #7,737
1861 historical 362 #7,062
1881 historical 630 #5,630
1891 historical 622 #6,214
1901 historical 734 #6,034
1911 historical 638 #6,534
1997 modern 658 #7,596
1998 modern 671 #7,727
1999 modern 703 #7,488
2000 modern 683 #7,633
2001 modern 690 #7,452
2002 modern 677 #7,711
2003 modern 679 #7,576
2004 modern 664 #7,716
2005 modern 660 #7,688
2006 modern 673 #7,601
2007 modern 675 #7,659
2008 modern 675 #7,687
2009 modern 715 #7,519
2010 modern 729 #7,541
2011 modern 730 #7,463
2012 modern 686 #7,717
2013 modern 702 #7,705
2014 modern 706 #7,720
2015 modern 681 #7,887
2016 modern 662 #8,057

Geography

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Where Bleakleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Radcliffe, Dean, Bolton-le-Moors, Bury (Walmersley and Tottington, Heap),Middleton (Birtle with Bamford, Pilsworth) and Prestwich. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Three Rivers, Wolverhampton, South Staffordshire, Merchiston and Greenhill and Bolton. 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 Radcliffe Lancashire
2 Dean Lancashire
3 Bolton-le-Moors Lancashire
4 Bury (Walmersley and Tottington, Heap),Middleton (Birtle with Bamford, Pilsworth) Lancashire
5 Prestwich Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Three Rivers 001 Three Rivers
2 Wolverhampton 028 Wolverhampton
3 South Staffordshire 010 South Staffordshire
4 Merchiston and Greenhill City of Edinburgh
5 Bolton 027 Bolton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bleakley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bleakley

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Bleakley is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Bleakley is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bleakley falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Bleakley

The surname Bleakley is of English origin, originating from the northern counties of England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "blæc" meaning pale or white, and "leah" meaning a meadow or clearing in a forest. The name likely referred to someone who lived near a light or pale-colored meadow.

Records show that the name was first found in Lancashire, where the Bleakley family held a family seat from ancient times. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1188, where it is spelled "Blakeley."

In the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, the name is recorded as "Blakeleye," and in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379, it appears as "Blakeley." These variations in spelling were common during the Middle Ages due to the lack of consistent orthographic rules.

The Bleakley family played a significant role in the history of Lancashire and Yorkshire. John Bleakley (1489-1557) was a notable member of the family, serving as the Sheriff of Lancashire in 1532. During the English Civil War, Richard Bleakley (1612-1690) was a staunch Royalist supporter and fought alongside King Charles I.

In the 18th century, the Bleakley family expanded their influence beyond northern England. William Bleakley (1735-1809) was a prominent merchant and landowner in County Armagh, Ireland. His son, John Bleakley (1771-1844), became a successful barrister and served as a Member of Parliament for Armagh from 1818 to 1826.

Another notable individual was Sir Thomas Bleakley (1855-1922), a British businessman and politician who served as the Lord Mayor of Manchester from 1908 to 1909. He was knighted in 1910 for his contributions to the city.

Other individuals with the Bleakley surname include:

1. Robert Bleakley (1795-1856), an English architect known for his work on several churches in Lancashire. 2. John Bleakley (1832-1912), an Irish-born Australian politician who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland. 3. Margaret Bleakley (1875-1958), a Scottish author and editor known for her works on Celtic literature and folklore. 4. John Bleakley (1895-1970), a British architect and town planner who designed several public housing projects in London. 5. David Bleakley (born 1965), a Northern Irish football player who played for several clubs, including Glentoran and Linfield.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bleakley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bleakley 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. Lancashire leads with 549 Bleakleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.53x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 549 7.53x
Cheshire 17 1.25x
Middlesex 16 0.26x
Lanarkshire 10 0.50x
Essex 7 0.58x
Midlothian 7 0.85x
Norfolk 7 0.74x
Ayrshire 6 1.30x
Derbyshire 2 0.21x
Surrey 2 0.07x
Yorkshire 2 0.03x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.26x
Lincolnshire 1 0.10x
Renfrewshire 1 0.21x
Staffordshire 1 0.05x
Westmorland 1 0.74x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Pilkington in Lancashire leads with 112 Bleakleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 404.33x.

Place Total Index
Pilkington 112 404.33x
Little Bolton 63 67.19x
Radcliffe 51 145.09x
Great Bolton 45 46.59x
Farnworth 30 68.67x
Tonge With Haulgh 27 190.14x
Bury 16 19.21x
Great Lever 16 206.72x
Lower Darwen 16 167.19x
Halliwell 15 56.52x
Atherton 13 48.98x
Kearsley 13 84.75x
Birkenhead 11 10.17x
Acton 10 27.75x
Prestwich 10 54.98x
Ashton Under Lyne 9 5.65x
Barony 9 1.79x
Darcy Lever 9 214.29x
Walmersley Cum 9 77.25x
Elton 8 31.76x
Astley 7 124.33x
Little Hulton 7 58.00x
Tottington Higher End 7 84.34x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 7 33.35x
West Ham 7 2.61x
Everton 6 2.58x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 5 25.67x
Frettenham 5 1063.83x
Gorton 5 7.29x
Hopwood 5 52.47x
Hulme 5 3.28x
Worsley 5 11.12x
Golborne 4 42.11x
Islington London 4 0.67x
Ochiltree 4 126.58x
Openshaw 4 11.71x
Pennington In Leigh 4 28.59x
Wigan 4 3.93x
Manchester 3 0.91x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 3 19.23x
Altrincham 2 8.44x
Butterworth 2 11.25x
Cheetham 2 3.68x
Clitheroe 2 9.32x
Dalrymple 2 69.44x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 2 0.60x
Penge 2 5.09x
Salford 2 0.93x
Whitby 2 9.75x
Bedford 1 6.56x
Burnley 1 1.63x
Casterton 1 81.97x
Epworth 1 21.83x
Glasgow 1 0.28x
Great Yarmouth 1 1.28x
Hayfield 1 16.95x
Litton 1 65.36x
Lochwinnoch 1 14.08x
Norwich St Stephen 1 11.53x
Ogley Hay 1 23.20x
Oldham 1 0.42x
Pendleton In Salford 1 1.15x
Pilsworth 1 62.50x
Sale 1 6.01x
St Bride London 1 28.01x
St George Bloomsbury 1 2.84x
Whittingham 1 31.15x
Wisbech St Peter 1 5.12x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 44
Sarah 29
Alice 27
Elizabeth 25
Jane 15
Margaret 13
Ann 12
Ellen 12
Hannah 12
Annie 11
Eliza 9
Emily 9
Emma 9
Martha 8
Betsy 7
Nancy 7
Harriet 4
Betty 3
Catherine 3
Elizth. 3
Esther 3
Rachel 3
Amy 2
Betsey 2
Fanny 2
Isabella 2
Lucy 2
M.A. 2
Maud 2
Millicent 2
Minnie 2
Rose 2
Agatha 1
Amelia 1
Caroline 1
Clara 1
Evaline 1
Florence 1
Francis 1
Julia 1
Leah 1
Lizzie 1
Lue 1
Mabel 1
Margaram 1
Margeret 1
Margt. 1
Margt.A. 1
Maria 1
Tarai 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 48
James 40
Thomas 28
William 26
Robert 12
Charles 11
Joseph 10
George 7
Alfred 6
Arthur 6
Henry 4
Herbert 4
Richard 4
Samuel 4
Walter 4
Albert 3
Alexander 3
Ellis 3
Edward 2
Edwin 2
Elisha 2
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Wilson 2
Wright 2
Chas. 1
Chris 1
Christopher 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Dearit 1
Elijah 1
Evan 1
Fred 1
Hall 1
Harry 1
Jesse 1
Joshua 1
Josiah 1
Kay 1
Levie 1
Mares 1
Mark 1
Mathew 1
Omar 1
Page 1
Paul 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Ralph 1

FAQ

Bleakley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bleakley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 630 people were recorded with the Bleakley surname. That placed it at #5,630 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bleakley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 662 in 2016. That gives Bleakley a modern rank of #8,057.

What does the Bleakley surname mean?

A topographic surname originally describing someone who lived near a bleak, desolate, or wind-swept area.

What does the Bleakley map show?

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