UK surname
An English surname derived from a place name meaning "bush-covered meadow" or "clearing."
In the 1881 census there were 49 people recorded with the Bushley surname, ranking it #26,735 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1, ranked #39,061, down from #26,735 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Sedbergh, St Peter and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bushley is 190 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 98.0%.
1881 census count
49
Ranked #26,735
Modern count
1
2016, ranked #39,061
Peak year
1911
190 bearers
Map years
3
1861 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Bushley surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Bushley surname density by area, 1911 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 | 62 | #22,232 |
| 1861 | historical | 173 | #13,553 |
| 1881 | historical | 49 | #26,735 |
| 1891 | historical | 145 | #18,752 |
| 1901 | historical | 41 | #29,602 |
| 1911 | historical | 190 | #15,438 |
| 2003 | modern | 1 | #38,735 |
| 2004 | modern | 1 | #38,771 |
| 2005 | modern | 1 | #38,814 |
| 2011 | modern | 1 | #39,015 |
| 2012 | modern | 1 | #38,986 |
| 2013 | modern | 1 | #39,008 |
| 2014 | modern | 1 | #39,020 |
| 2015 | modern | 1 | #39,021 |
| 2016 | modern | 1 | #39,061 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Sedbergh, St Peter, London parishes and Birstall. 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 | Sedbergh | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 2 | St Peter | Derbyshire |
| 3 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 4 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 5 | Birstall | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Bushley 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 Bushley, 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 Bushley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Bushley 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, Bushley 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 Bushley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Bushley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Bushley originates from England, with its earliest known roots dating back to the 11th century. The name is derived from the Old English words "busc" meaning "bush" and "leah" meaning "a clearing in the woods," suggesting the name initially referred to someone who lived in a wooded area with a clearing.
Records show that the name Bushley was first documented in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation commissioned by William the Conqueror. In this historical document, the name appeared as "Buscheleie" and was associated with a settlement in Worcestershire.
One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Bushley was John de Bushley, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire in 1195. The Pipe Rolls were financial records maintained by the English Exchequer, indicating that John de Bushley held land or had financial dealings in the region.
In the 13th century, the name was sometimes spelled as "Buschelei" or "Buscheley," reflecting the variations in spelling common during that era. During this time, the name Bushley was also associated with the village of Bushley in Worcestershire, which likely derived its name from the same etymological roots.
A notable figure in history with the surname Bushley was Sir John Bushley, who lived in the 14th century and served as a member of the English Parliament representing Worcestershire in 1330. Another prominent individual was Richard Bushley, who was born in 1495 and served as the Mayor of Worcester in 1548.
The Bushley family continued to have a presence in Worcestershire throughout the centuries, with several members holding positions of local importance. For instance, Thomas Bushley was a member of the Worcestershire County Council in the 17th century, and Edward Bushley served as the High Sheriff of Worcestershire in 1712.
While the name Bushley is not as common today as it once was, it remains a part of the English surname heritage, with its origins rooted in the rural landscapes of Worcestershire and the Old English language.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bushley 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. Middlesex leads with 13 Bushleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.72x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 13 | 2.72x |
| Derbyshire | 10 | 13.37x |
| Nottinghamshire | 6 | 9.31x |
| Bedfordshire | 5 | 20.20x |
| Sussex | 3 | 3.72x |
| Kent | 2 | 1.23x |
| Midlothian | 2 | 3.12x |
| Northumberland | 2 | 2.81x |
| Surrey | 2 | 0.86x |
| Essex | 1 | 1.06x |
| Flintshire | 1 | 7.78x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 1.02x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 0.65x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Derby St Peter in Derbyshire leads with 10 Bushleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 420.17x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Derby St Peter | 10 | 420.17x |
| Willesden | 9 | 199.56x |
| Nottingham St Mary | 6 | 36.01x |
| Wilshampstead | 5 | 3846.15x |
| St Marylebone London | 4 | 15.67x |
| Broadwater | 2 | 108.11x |
| Edinburgh St Cuthberts | 2 | 7.76x |
| Benwell | 1 | 128.21x |
| Brighton | 1 | 6.15x |
| Camberwell | 1 | 3.28x |
| Flint | 1 | 136.99x |
| Glasgow | 1 | 3.64x |
| Haltwhistle | 1 | 285.71x |
| Portsmouth | 1 | 44.25x |
| Reigate Foreign | 1 | 39.68x |
| Staplehurst | 1 | 370.37x |
| Tonbridge | 1 | 17.01x |
| Wanstead | 1 | 60.61x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Bushley 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 Bushley 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 Bushley households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 11 |
| Lacemaker | 4 |
| Labourer | 2 |
| Beerhouse Keeper | 1 |
| Brewer | 1 |
| Church School Teacher | 1 |
| Colliery Labourer | 1 |
| Dom Serv | 1 |
| Driver Stage | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| Hawker in Small Ware | 1 |
| House Painter | 1 |
| Income From Houses & Land | 1 |
| Joiner | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Messenger | 1 |
| Midshipman M Marine | 1 |
| N K | 1 |
| Ordy | 1 |
| Pensioner Army (...) | 1 |
| Scripture Reader | 1 |
| Washerwoman | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 49 people were recorded with the Bushley surname. That placed it at #26,735 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 1 in 2016. That gives Bushley a modern rank of #39,061.
An English surname derived from a place name meaning "bush-covered meadow" or "clearing."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Bushley 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.