NameCensus.

UK surname

Caley

A surname derived from the Old French word meaning "chalky".

In the 1881 census there were 922 people recorded with the Caley surname, ranking it #4,163 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,504, ranked #4,112, up from #4,163 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Hull Holy Trinity and Leeds. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Riding of Yorkshire, Suffolk Coastal and Breckland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Caley is 1,605 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 63.1%.

1881 census count

922

Ranked #4,163

Modern count

1,504

2016, ranked #4,112

Peak year

1998

1,605 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Caley had 922 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,163 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,504 in 2016, ranked #4,112.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,365 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Caley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Caley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Caley 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 524 #4,784
1861 historical 767 #3,583
1881 historical 922 #4,163
1891 historical 1,110 #3,819
1901 historical 1,246 #3,973
1911 historical 1,365 #3,517
1997 modern 1,560 #3,785
1998 modern 1,605 #3,830
1999 modern 1,599 #3,877
2000 modern 1,559 #3,937
2001 modern 1,517 #3,944
2002 modern 1,576 #3,909
2003 modern 1,575 #3,827
2004 modern 1,576 #3,830
2005 modern 1,543 #3,861
2006 modern 1,519 #3,922
2007 modern 1,524 #3,935
2008 modern 1,513 #3,999
2009 modern 1,547 #4,004
2010 modern 1,559 #4,052
2011 modern 1,548 #4,035
2012 modern 1,498 #4,091
2013 modern 1,524 #4,104
2014 modern 1,551 #4,049
2015 modern 1,519 #4,093
2016 modern 1,504 #4,112

Geography

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Where Caleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Hull Holy Trinity, Leeds and New Windsor, Clewer. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Riding of Yorkshire, Suffolk Coastal, Breckland and South Holland. 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 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
3 London parishes London 3
4 Leeds Yorkshire, West Riding
5 New Windsor, Clewer Berkshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Riding of Yorkshire 021 East Riding of Yorkshire
2 Suffolk Coastal 007 Suffolk Coastal
3 Breckland 014 Breckland
4 South Holland 008 South Holland
5 Suffolk Coastal 014 Suffolk Coastal

Forenames

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First names often paired with Caley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Caley

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Caley 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

Caley 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

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

Meaning and origin of Caley

The surname Caley has its origins in England, with roots dating back to the 11th century. It is believed to have originated from a place name, likely derived from the Old English words "calu" meaning "bald" or "bare," and "leah" meaning "clearing" or "meadow." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a bare or bald clearing.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Caley can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land and property commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry mentions a landowner named Radulfus de Calueleia, which is thought to be an early spelling variation of the name Caley.

During the 13th century, the surname Caley began to appear more frequently in various historical records, such as the Hundred Rolls of 1273 and the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire. These documents provide valuable insights into the distribution and variations of the name across different regions of England.

Notable individuals bearing the surname Caley throughout history include:

1. Sir John Caley (1763-1834), an English antiquarian and officer of arms at the College of Arms in London. 2. Robert Caley (1579-1658), an English clergyman and author, known for his work on the history of the Church of England. 3. Agnes Caley (b. 1921), a British actress who appeared in numerous television shows and films during the mid-20th century. 4. William Caley (1798-1876), an English botanist and explorer who made significant contributions to the study of Australian flora. 5. Thomas Caley (1827-1893), a British businessman and politician who served as the Mayor of Wolverhampton from 1883 to 1884.

Throughout its history, the surname Caley has been subject to various spelling variations, including Calley, Cayley, and Cailey. These variations often reflected regional dialects and pronunciation differences across England. Place names such as Calverley and Cawley in Yorkshire may also have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Caley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Caley 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. Isle of Man leads with 244 Caleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 116.11x.

County Total Index
Isle of Man 244 116.11x
Yorkshire 176 1.57x
Lancashire 164 1.22x
Middlesex 122 1.08x
Suffolk 112 8.13x
Norfolk 56 3.22x
Surrey 50 0.91x
Kent 34 0.88x
Berkshire 32 3.77x
Durham 17 0.51x
Lincolnshire 17 0.94x
Staffordshire 16 0.42x
Nottinghamshire 13 0.85x
Worcestershire 13 0.88x
Derbyshire 11 0.62x
Cumberland 9 0.92x
Warwickshire 8 0.28x
Essex 7 0.31x
Hampshire 7 0.30x
Pembrokeshire 7 1.95x
Westmorland 7 2.81x
Hertfordshire 5 0.64x
Somerset 5 0.27x
Sussex 5 0.26x
Cheshire 4 0.16x
East Lothian 3 2.00x
Wiltshire 3 0.30x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.29x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.28x
Devon 2 0.08x
Gloucestershire 2 0.09x
Argyllshire 1 0.32x
Dorset 1 0.13x
Herefordshire 1 0.22x
Leicestershire 1 0.08x
Northumberland 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Onchan in Isle of Man leads with 41 Caleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 67.74x.

Place Total Index
Onchan 41 67.74x
Rothwell 36 158.94x
Maughold 31 191.24x
Lonan 30 235.66x
Lezayre 25 265.11x
Ballaugh 23 613.33x
Bride 22 766.55x
Toxteth Park 22 4.84x
Bricett 21 2142.86x
Hunslet 21 12.01x
German Peel 20 165.29x
Holy Trinity 19 7.04x
Southcoates 19 30.52x
St Pancras London 18 1.98x
Butley 15 1034.48x
New Windsor 15 52.54x
Baylham 14 651.16x
Combs 14 304.35x
Everton 14 3.27x
Garton Cum Grimstone 14 2295.08x
Jurby 13 511.81x
Malew 13 70.81x
Sutton St Mary 13 75.98x
Oldham 12 2.77x
Bethnal Green London 11 2.24x
Hackney London 11 1.73x
Kensington London 11 1.75x
Swanland 11 643.27x
Cheadle 10 54.53x
Claydon 10 487.80x
Islington London 10 0.91x
Chart Sutton 9 338.35x
Chelsea London 9 2.64x
Clewer 9 25.87x
North Bedburn 9 95.64x
Barney 8 666.67x
Carnforth 8 108.55x
Kirkdale 8 3.54x
Manchester 8 1.32x
Prescot 8 32.95x
Southwark St John 8 23.11x
Tonbridge 8 5.75x
Barham 7 384.62x
Carlton In Lindrick 7 172.84x
Chesterfield 7 10.54x
Clapham 7 4.95x
Lambeth 7 0.71x
Little Bolton 7 4.05x
St Davids 7 86.00x
Stanwell 7 83.63x
Thursford 7 551.18x
West Derby 7 1.78x
West Newton W Burton 7 1228.07x
Barrow In Furness 6 3.29x
Bubwith 6 298.51x
Cottingham 6 24.82x
Hulme 6 2.14x
Ipswich St Clement 6 17.13x
Kings Norton 6 4.53x
Marown 6 156.66x
Newington 6 1.44x
Paddington London 6 1.44x
Patrick 6 58.59x
Redenhall 6 88.76x
Sculcoates 6 3.38x
Shevington 6 97.72x
Shouldham Thorpe 6 555.56x
Southampton St Mary 6 4.11x
St Luke London 6 3.31x
Andreas 5 87.72x
Bolton Le Sands 5 164.47x
Bootle Cum Linacre 5 4.69x
Esh 5 20.41x
Great Crosby 5 13.66x
Ipswich St Margaret 5 10.69x
Norwich St Stephen 5 31.31x
Preston Quarter 5 18.32x
Stainton 5 331.13x
Woolwich 5 3.51x
Broxbourne 4 25.87x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 65
Elizabeth 54
Ann 28
Sarah 25
Margaret 24
Jane 21
Ellen 20
Alice 19
Emily 19
Eliza 18
Emma 17
Annie 15
Catherine 14
Eleanor 11
Hannah 8
Charlotte 7
Agnes 6
Clara 6
Edith 6
Frances 6
Louisa 6
Martha 6
Ada 5
Anne 5
Christian 5
Fanny 5
Harriet 5
Lucy 5
Amelia 4
Caroline 4
Catharine 4
Esther 4
Florence 4
Gertrude 4
Julia 4
Kate 4
Maria 4
Rebecca 4
Rose 4
Amy 3
Anna 3
Eliz. 3
Isabella 3
Lavinia 3
Minnie 3
Rosa 3
Susannah 3
Cathrine 2
Elizth. 2
Margt.A. 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 68
William 61
Thomas 48
Henry 36
James 34
George 30
Robert 26
Charles 21
Arthur 14
Joseph 13
Edward 11
Walter 11
Alfred 10
Samuel 10
Richard 8
Albert 7
Frederick 7
Harry 7
Leonard 7
Herbert 6
Daniel 5
Thos. 5
Ernest 4
Fred 4
Geo. 4
Philip 4
Wm. 4
Frank 3
Frederic 3
Andrew 2
David 2
Fredrick 2
Hugh 2
Isaac 2
Jacob 2
Jas. 2
Jonathan 2
Louis 2
Mathew 2
Matthew 2
Patrick 2
Paul 2
Sydney 2
Amos 1
Charley 1
Ezra 1
Frances 1
Francis 1
J.Thomas 1
Woolley 1

FAQ

Caley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Caley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 922 people were recorded with the Caley surname. That placed it at #4,163 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Caley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,504 in 2016. That gives Caley a modern rank of #4,112.

What does the Caley surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old French word meaning "chalky".

What does the Caley map show?

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