NameCensus.

UK surname

Burley

From the Old English byrlæ, an occupational surname for a cup-bearer or butler in a noble household.

In the 1881 census there were 2,818 people recorded with the Burley surname, ranking it #1,582 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,525, ranked #1,924, down from #1,582 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841) and Blaby. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, Monmouthshire and Ryedale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Burley is 3,893 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 25.1%.

1881 census count

2,818

Ranked #1,582

Modern count

3,525

2016, ranked #1,924

Peak year

1911

3,893 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Burley had 2,818 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,582 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,525 in 2016, ranked #1,924.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,893 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Burley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Burley surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Burley 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 1,881 #1,534
1861 historical 1,971 #1,481
1881 historical 2,818 #1,582
1891 historical 2,898 #1,627
1901 historical 3,492 #1,600
1911 historical 3,893 #1,321
1997 modern 3,717 #1,743
1998 modern 3,814 #1,771
1999 modern 3,809 #1,782
2000 modern 3,725 #1,812
2001 modern 3,634 #1,815
2002 modern 3,676 #1,839
2003 modern 3,549 #1,860
2004 modern 3,593 #1,840
2005 modern 3,525 #1,853
2006 modern 3,545 #1,846
2007 modern 3,540 #1,861
2008 modern 3,538 #1,875
2009 modern 3,625 #1,875
2010 modern 3,735 #1,861
2011 modern 3,650 #1,881
2012 modern 3,533 #1,903
2013 modern 3,574 #1,915
2014 modern 3,601 #1,910
2015 modern 3,548 #1,924
2016 modern 3,525 #1,924

Geography

Back to top

Where Burleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841), Blaby and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, Monmouthshire, Ryedale and Lincoln. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841) Devon
3 London parishes London 3
4 Blaby Leicestershire
5 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 059 Cornwall
2 Monmouthshire 004 Monmouthshire
3 Cornwall 056 Cornwall
4 Ryedale 008 Ryedale
5 Lincoln 011 Lincoln

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Burley

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Burley

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

Burley is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Burley 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 Burley 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 Burley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Burley

The surname Burley is of English origin, with records dating back to the 11th century. It is derived from the Old English words "burh" meaning a fortified town or manor, and "leah" meaning a meadow or clearing. The name likely originated as a place name, referring to someone who lived in or near a meadow or clearing by a fortified town or manor.

The earliest known record of the surname Burley can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which documented landowners and property holders in England. The entry mentions "Richard de Burleia" as a landholder in Wiltshire.

During the Middle Ages, variations in spelling were common, and the name appeared in various forms such as Burleigh, Burlee, and Burly. Some of the earliest recorded individuals with this surname include Sir John Burley (c. 1330 - 1416), a prominent English soldier and diplomat who served under King Richard II, and William Burley (c. 1275 - 1344), an English philosopher and logician known for his contributions to medieval scholastic thought.

In the 16th century, the surname Burley was associated with several notable figures, including Walter Burley (c. 1515 - 1585), an English Puritan clergyman and author. Another prominent individual was Sir John Burley (c. 1525 - 1587), an English soldier and courtier who served under Queen Elizabeth I.

In the 17th century, the surname gained prominence with individuals such as Thomas Burley (c. 1635 - 1701), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Warwickshire. During this period, the surname was also associated with several place names, including Burley in Hampshire and Burley in Rutland.

Moving into the 18th and 19th centuries, notable individuals with the surname Burley include William Burley (1770 - 1858), an English botanist and horticulturist, and Walter Burley Griffin (1876 - 1937), an American architect renowned for designing the city of Canberra, Australia's capital.

Throughout its history, the surname Burley has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including soldiers, politicians, scholars, and artists, reflecting its enduring presence across the English-speaking world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Burley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Burley 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. Yorkshire leads with 588 Burleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.14x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 588 2.14x
Middlesex 297 1.07x
Surrey 274 2.03x
Cornwall 181 5.77x
Kent 165 1.74x
Lincolnshire 123 2.78x
Lancashire 119 0.36x
Warwickshire 112 1.60x
Gloucestershire 86 1.58x
Staffordshire 82 0.88x
Leicestershire 80 2.60x
Devon 75 1.30x
Lanarkshire 65 0.73x
Derbyshire 56 1.29x
Sussex 55 1.18x
Bedfordshire 51 3.55x
Worcestershire 49 1.35x
Nottinghamshire 48 1.29x
Hampshire 38 0.67x
Essex 37 0.68x
Suffolk 32 0.95x
Durham 28 0.34x
Channel Islands 19 2.31x
Cheshire 19 0.31x
Northamptonshire 16 0.61x
Aberdeenshire 14 0.55x
Ayrshire 13 0.63x
Norfolk 13 0.31x
Cumberland 11 0.46x
Monmouthshire 11 0.55x
Shropshire 11 0.46x
Hertfordshire 9 0.47x
Kincardineshire 9 2.67x
Stirlingshire 7 0.68x
Angus 5 0.19x
Berkshire 5 0.24x
Glamorgan 5 0.10x
Wiltshire 5 0.20x
Northumberland 4 0.10x
Royal Navy 4 1.21x
Westmorland 4 0.66x
Dunbartonshire 2 0.27x
Fife 2 0.12x
Huntingdonshire 2 0.36x
Midlothian 2 0.05x
Oxfordshire 2 0.12x
Somerset 2 0.04x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.06x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.06x
Dorset 1 0.06x
West Lothian 1 0.24x

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 73 Burleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.13x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 73 3.13x
Huddersfield 49 12.25x
Sheffield 44 5.03x
Lambeth 38 1.57x
Newington 35 3.42x
Paddington London 33 3.24x
Ecclesall Bierlow 31 5.55x
Leeds 31 2.00x
Aston 30 1.56x
Countesthorpe 30 286.26x
Bristol St George 29 11.54x
Mile End Old Town London 29 4.92x
Glasgow 28 1.76x
Islington London 28 1.04x
Battersea 27 2.65x
Camberwell 27 1.53x
Doncaster 23 11.46x
Plymouth St Andrew 22 4.95x
Weston On Trent 22 439.12x
Cranfield 21 152.28x
Nottingham St Mary 21 2.17x
St Pancras London 21 0.94x
Godstone 19 78.54x
New Sealford 19 208.33x
St Briavels 19 271.04x
Calstock 18 29.25x
Plumstead 18 5.71x
Sittingbourne 18 24.11x
St Swithin Lincoln 18 25.84x
Wandsworth 18 6.75x
Brightside Bierlow 16 2.97x
Hammersmith London 16 2.34x
Maresfield 16 81.26x
Mylor 16 76.12x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 15 5.86x
Kea 15 64.16x
Leicester St Margaret 15 2.00x
Shoreditch London 15 1.25x
St Luke London 15 3.37x
Theberton 15 262.70x
West Ham 15 1.24x
Bethnal Green London 14 1.16x
Charlton Next Woolwich 14 14.20x
Plymouth Charles The 14 5.51x
St Sampson 14 37.83x
Stoke Upon Trent 14 1.41x
Tregoney St James 14 240.55x
Barrow In Furness 13 2.91x
Chapel Allerton 13 31.63x
Govan 13 0.59x
Kensington London 13 0.84x
Lye 13 21.58x
Normanton 13 15.75x
Salford 13 1.34x
Snenton 13 8.86x
St Lawrence 13 20.00x
Wigan 13 2.83x
Bermondsey 12 1.45x
Croydon 12 1.60x
Fletching 12 57.39x
Perranarworthal 12 114.50x
Poplar London 12 2.29x
Potter Newton 12 24.77x
St George Hanover Square 12 2.46x
Fetcham 11 243.90x
Kenwyn 11 13.41x
Loudoun 11 22.05x
Shepley 11 72.66x
St Marylebone London 11 0.74x
Stourbridge 11 11.81x
Willenhall 11 6.28x
York St Mary 11 9.67x
Crowhurst 10 246.91x
Feock 10 50.92x
Laceby 10 103.63x
Milton Abbott 10 119.76x
Normanton 10 27.29x
Sandwich St Mary 10 116.55x
Southwark St George Martyr 10 1.79x
Tudhoe 10 13.86x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 166
Elizabeth 115
Sarah 100
Ann 54
Jane 49
Ellen 44
Annie 40
Eliza 40
Emma 37
Alice 36
Emily 33
Martha 29
Louisa 25
Harriet 24
Clara 22
Charlotte 20
Florence 20
Caroline 18
Edith 18
Hannah 18
Fanny 17
Maria 17
Susan 16
Ada 15
Kate 15
Catherine 14
Margaret 14
Agnes 11
Harriett 11
Amelia 9
Ethel 9
Lucy 9
Matilda 9
Frances 8
Amy 7
Anne 7
Rose 7
Minnie 6
Sophia 6
Susannah 6
Betsy 5
Elizth. 5
Esther 5
Grace 5
Julia 5
Lydia 5
Rachel 5
Selina 5
Lillian 4
Rebecca 4

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 181
John 150
George 107
Thomas 87
James 68
Charles 59
Joseph 57
Henry 43
Richard 37
Alfred 36
Edward 26
Albert 25
Arthur 25
Frederick 25
Walter 25
Robert 19
Samuel 19
Harry 18
Ernest 17
Frank 16
Benjamin 13
Wm. 12
David 9
Tom 9
Francis 8
Fred 8
Daniel 7
Matthew 7
Andrew 6
Jacob 6
Chas. 5
Fredrick 5
Herbert 5
Horace 5
Joe 5
Thos. 5
Edmund 4
Edwin 4
Isaac 4
Mark 4
Willie 4
Geo. 3
Hugh 3
Jno. 3
Leonard 3
Michael 3
Percy 3
Peter 3
Richd. 3
Sidney 3

FAQ

Burley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Burley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,818 people were recorded with the Burley surname. That placed it at #1,582 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Burley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,525 in 2016. That gives Burley a modern rank of #1,924.

What does the Burley surname mean?

From the Old English byrlæ, an occupational surname for a cup-bearer or butler in a noble household.

What does the Burley map show?

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