NameCensus.

UK surname

Boley

Derived from a place name meaning "bare clearing" in Old English, likely referring to a person's residence.

In the 1881 census there were 138 people recorded with the Boley surname, ranking it #16,292 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 120, ranked #27,563, down from #16,292 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Mark, Chapel Allerton, Weare, East Brent, South Brent and Wedmore. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sedgemoor and Tendring.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Boley is 192 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 13.0%.

1881 census count

138

Ranked #16,292

Modern count

120

2016, ranked #27,563

Peak year

1891

192 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Boley had 138 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,292 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 120 in 2016, ranked #27,563.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 192 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Boley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Boley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Boley 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 118 #15,362
1861 historical 145 #15,715
1881 historical 138 #16,292
1891 historical 192 #15,383
1901 historical 172 #16,643
1911 historical 169 #16,564
1997 modern 127 #23,352
1998 modern 136 #23,013
1999 modern 132 #23,602
2000 modern 128 #24,015
2001 modern 130 #23,457
2002 modern 124 #24,616
2003 modern 131 #23,553
2004 modern 135 #23,326
2005 modern 127 #24,178
2006 modern 135 #23,486
2007 modern 135 #23,824
2008 modern 133 #24,350
2009 modern 130 #25,176
2010 modern 130 #25,775
2011 modern 135 #24,922
2012 modern 132 #25,289
2013 modern 134 #25,525
2014 modern 126 #26,781
2015 modern 123 #27,088
2016 modern 120 #27,563

Geography

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Where Boleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Mark, Chapel Allerton, Weare, East Brent, South Brent, Wedmore, Langham and Bleadon. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sedgemoor and Tendring. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Mark, Chapel Allerton, Weare, East Brent, South Brent Somerset
3 Wedmore Somerset
4 Langham Essex
5 Bleadon Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sedgemoor 005 Sedgemoor
2 Sedgemoor 002 Sedgemoor
3 Sedgemoor 004 Sedgemoor
4 Sedgemoor 006 Sedgemoor
5 Tendring 004 Tendring

Forenames

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First names often paired with Boley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Boley

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Boley is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Boley is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Boley falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Boley

The surname Boley originates from France and is believed to have derived from the French word "bouleau," meaning birch tree. The name traces its roots back to the Middle Ages, around the 12th century, when it was common practice for individuals to adopt surnames based on their occupation, physical characteristics, or geographical location.

Boley was initially most prevalent in the northern regions of France, particularly in areas where birch trees were abundant. It is possible that the earliest bearers of this surname were either involved in the cultivation or trade of birch wood or resided near groves of birch trees.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Boley can be found in the Cartulaire de Sainte-Croix d'Orléans, a medieval cartulary (a collection of charters and legal documents) dated to the 12th century. This document mentions a certain "Robertus Boleius" in the year 1173, indicating the existence of the surname during that time period.

In the 13th century, the name Boley appeared in various forms, such as "Boulay," "Boulai," and "Bouley," reflecting the regional variations in spelling and pronunciation. For instance, the Cartulaire de l'Abbaye de Saint-Père de Chartres, dating back to 1240, records a "Guillelmus Boulay" among its entries.

Throughout the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the surname Boley. One such figure was Jacques Boley (1538-1612), a French jurist and legal scholar who served as a counselor in the Parliament of Paris. Another prominent bearer of the name was Jean Boley (1620-1692), a French philosopher and theologian who authored several works on ethics and moral philosophy.

In the realm of literature, the name Boley is associated with François Boley (1711-1785), a French poet and playwright who gained recognition for his satirical works and comedic plays.

Across the English Channel, the name Boley also found its way into British history. One notable example is William Boley (1749-1829), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for the borough of Clackmannan from 1796 to 1806.

While the surname Boley has its origins in France, it has since spread to various parts of the world, carried by individuals who migrated or descended from French ancestors. The name continues to hold a rich historical legacy, reflecting its ties to the natural world and the diverse experiences of those who have borne it over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Boley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Boley 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. Somerset leads with 47 Boleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.08x.

County Total Index
Somerset 47 21.08x
Middlesex 27 1.95x
Essex 22 8.05x
Suffolk 10 5.93x
Surrey 10 1.48x
Durham 5 1.21x
Kent 4 0.85x
Channel Islands 3 7.31x
Cornwall 3 1.91x
Devon 2 0.69x
Lanarkshire 2 0.45x
Lancashire 2 0.12x
Glamorgan 1 0.41x
Leicestershire 1 0.65x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.54x
Royal Navy 1 6.06x
Warwickshire 1 0.29x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bleadon in Somerset leads with 12 Boleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4137.93x.

Place Total Index
Bleadon 12 4137.93x
Mark 8 1538.46x
Ealing 7 56.54x
East Brent 7 2058.82x
Langham 7 2187.50x
Camberwell 6 6.78x
Dedham 6 722.89x
Uphill 6 1935.48x
Bromley London 5 16.41x
North Bedburn 5 434.78x
Paddington London 5 9.82x
Chew Magna 4 512.82x
Halstead 4 125.39x
Lewisham 4 15.87x
Poplar London 4 15.30x
Weston Super Mare 4 71.05x
Bethnal Green London 3 4.99x
Higham 3 3750.00x
Ipswich St Margaret 3 52.45x
Lympsham 3 1363.64x
Salcott 3 2727.27x
St Martin 3 119.52x
Govan 2 1.81x
Stoke By Nayland 2 363.64x
Stratford St Mary 2 833.33x
West Looe 2 487.80x
West Mersea 2 384.62x
Basford 1 11.63x
Bedminster 1 4.77x
Birmingham 1 0.86x
Blagdon 1 212.77x
Chapel Allerton 1 833.33x
Croydon 1 2.67x
Crumpsall 1 25.84x
Dartmouth Townstall 1 85.47x
East Stonehouse 1 17.61x
Ewell 1 70.42x
Islington London 1 0.74x
Kensington London 1 1.30x
Lanteglos By Fowey 1 156.25x
Leicester St Margaret 1 2.67x
Newington 1 1.95x
St Marylebone London 1 1.35x
Swansea Town 1 5.06x
Thornton In Sefton 1 769.23x
Wimbledon 1 13.19x

Top female names

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

Name Count
James 6
John 5
Walter 5
William 5
Frederick 4
George 4
Arthur 3
Charles 3
Samuel 3
Joseph 2
Richard 2
Robert 2
Thomas 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Edmund 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Emily 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Frederic 1
Geo. 1
Herbert 1
Horace 1
Isaac 1
Jno.B. 1
Jno.F. 1
Jonathan 1
Lawrence 1
Mark 1
Peter 1
Richd. 1
Robt.S. 1
Solomon 1
Thos 1
Twedele 1
Wilfred 1

FAQ

Boley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Boley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 138 people were recorded with the Boley surname. That placed it at #16,292 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Boley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 120 in 2016. That gives Boley a modern rank of #27,563.

What does the Boley surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "bare clearing" in Old English, likely referring to a person's residence.

What does the Boley map show?

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