NameCensus.

UK surname

Calley

An English habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "the cold meadow or clearing".

In the 1881 census there were 194 people recorded with the Calley surname, ranking it #13,097 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 119, ranked #27,704, down from #13,097 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Fowlis Wester and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bath and North East Somerset, Harrogate and Newburgh.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Calley is 452 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 38.7%.

1881 census count

194

Ranked #13,097

Modern count

119

2016, ranked #27,704

Peak year

1861

452 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Calley had 194 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,097 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 119 in 2016, ranked #27,704.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 452 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Calley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Calley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Calley 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 275 #8,150
1861 historical 452 #5,730
1881 historical 194 #13,097
1891 historical 315 #10,669
1901 historical 211 #14,647
1911 historical 134 #19,131
1997 modern 103 #26,498
1998 modern 110 #26,129
1999 modern 109 #26,439
2000 modern 111 #26,111
2001 modern 106 #26,468
2002 modern 96 #28,534
2003 modern 109 #26,361
2004 modern 108 #26,741
2005 modern 104 #27,369
2006 modern 114 #26,120
2007 modern 107 #27,557
2008 modern 111 #27,225
2009 modern 115 #27,207
2010 modern 131 #25,656
2011 modern 126 #26,060
2012 modern 114 #27,868
2013 modern 112 #28,675
2014 modern 112 #28,934
2015 modern 113 #28,645
2016 modern 119 #27,704

Geography

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Where Calleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Fowlis Wester, Edinburgh, Wakefield and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bath and North East Somerset, Harrogate, Newburgh and West Oxfordshire. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 Fowlis Wester Perth
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Wakefield Yorkshire, West Riding
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bath and North East Somerset 011 Bath and North East Somerset
2 Harrogate 005 Harrogate
3 Newburgh Fife
4 Bath and North East Somerset 015 Bath and North East Somerset
5 West Oxfordshire 011 West Oxfordshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Calley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Calley

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Young Asian Family Terraces

Within London, Calley is most associated with areas classed as Young Asian Family Terraces, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 households with dependent children typically live in terraced housing and are of (non-Chinese) Asian extraction. Individuals with Bangladeshi origins are particularly in evidence. Employment is often in elementary occupations or as process, plant or machine operatives, and part-time work is common. Students are much in evidence.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Calley is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Calley falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Calley

The surname Calley has its origins in the northern English region of Northumbria, deriving from the Old English words "calu" meaning "bare" and "leah" meaning "clearing" or "meadow". This suggests that the name originally referred to a person who lived near a bare or deforested area of land.

During the medieval period, the name was recorded with various spellings such as Calu, Caluleia, and Calvelea. It is believed that the earliest recorded instance of the name dates back to the 12th century, appearing in the Pipe Rolls of Northumberland from 1166.

In the 13th century, the name Calley appeared in several historical records, including the Assize Rolls of Northumberland from 1256, where a William de Calvelea was mentioned. The surname was also found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which documented landowners in England at the time.

One notable bearer of the Calley surname was Sir John Calley (c.1370-1442), a prominent English merchant and politician who served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1426. Another historical figure was William Calley (c.1490-1570), an English clergyman and academic who served as the President of Magdalen College, Oxford.

In the 16th century, the surname was often associated with the village of Calley in Northumberland, which was recorded as "Caluelay" in the Valor Ecclesiasticus of 1535. This suggests that some individuals with the surname may have originated from or resided in this area.

During the 17th century, the Calley family established themselves in various parts of England. One notable individual was Robert Calley (1616-1685), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Another was John Calley (1623-1695), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Gloucestershire.

The 18th and 19th centuries saw the Calley surname spread further across Britain and beyond. Thomas Calley (1777-1854) was a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars, while William Calley (1807-1875) was a prominent architect responsible for designing several notable buildings in London.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Calley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Calley 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. Middlesex leads with 30 Calleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.57x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 30 1.57x
Wiltshire 19 11.24x
Lancashire 13 0.57x
Midlothian 10 3.90x
Perthshire 10 11.66x
Devon 9 2.26x
Fife 9 7.95x
Surrey 9 0.97x
Somerset 8 2.60x
Essex 7 1.85x
Hertfordshire 7 5.31x
Warwickshire 7 1.45x
Berkshire 6 4.18x
Clackmannanshire 6 38.00x
Yorkshire 6 0.32x
Herefordshire 5 6.38x
Ayrshire 4 2.80x
Kent 4 0.61x
Northamptonshire 4 2.22x
Cheshire 3 0.71x
Wigtownshire 3 11.82x
Cambridgeshire 2 1.65x
Cornwall 2 0.92x
Hampshire 2 0.51x
Lanarkshire 2 0.32x
Sussex 2 0.62x
Argyllshire 1 1.88x
Channel Islands 1 1.77x
Durham 1 0.18x
Isle of Man 1 2.82x
Lincolnshire 1 0.33x
Shropshire 1 0.61x
Suffolk 1 0.43x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hornsey in Middlesex leads with 13 Calleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 53.76x.

Place Total Index
Hornsey 13 53.76x
Fowlis Wester 10 1369.86x
Wardour 9 1800.00x
Brixham 7 151.84x
Coventry St Michael 7 45.19x
Clackmannan 6 201.34x
Newbury 6 130.43x
West Ham 6 7.20x
Barkway 5 961.54x
Bromley London 5 11.89x
Chisledon 5 649.35x
Hereford St Owen 5 193.05x
South Leith 5 17.35x
Swindon 5 38.14x
Barrow In Furness 4 12.97x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 4 3.88x
Hackney London 4 3.73x
Collessie 3 230.77x
Dalmellington 3 71.26x
Kingston On Thames 3 13.40x
Lyncombe Widcombe 3 37.22x
Macclesfield 3 15.99x
Sutton 3 39.42x
Weston Super Mare 3 38.61x
Whithorn 3 155.44x
Bathwick 2 58.65x
Bishop Stortford 2 45.45x
Bowling 2 10.66x
Croydon 2 3.87x
Deptford St Paul 2 3.98x
Glasgow 2 1.82x
Hove 2 14.14x
Kensington London 2 1.88x
Kettle 2 147.06x
Lambeth 2 1.20x
Little Bolton 2 6.86x
Northampton All Sts 2 32.79x
Sheffield 2 3.32x
Shoreditch London 2 2.41x
Tormoham 2 11.88x
Billingborough 1 128.21x
Bury 1 3.86x
Ceres 1 73.53x
Cupar 1 20.33x
Earls Barton 1 65.36x
Edinburgh New 1 50.25x
Fulham London 1 3.61x
Hulme 1 2.11x
Inveraray 1 144.93x
Leeds 1 0.93x
Liverpool 1 0.73x
Lonan 1 46.51x
Lowestoft 1 9.09x
Madron Penzance 1 12.71x
Melbourn 1 84.75x
Much Wenlock 1 65.79x
Northampton St Giles 1 14.60x
Ormskirk 1 23.04x
Paddington London 1 1.42x
Redruth 1 16.34x
Sculcoates 1 3.33x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 2.60x
St Andrews 1 19.42x
St Andrewthe Less 1 7.23x
St Anne 1 99.01x
St Giles In Fields London 1 10.66x
Steeple Bumpstead 1 144.93x
Stockton On Tees 1 3.65x
Stratfield Turgis 1 769.23x
Strathmiglo 1 74.07x
Streatham 1 7.05x
Tarbolton 1 42.55x
Towerof London London 1 163.93x
Ventnor 1 26.81x
Westerham 1 66.67x
Woolwich 1 4.15x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 12
Sarah 5
Elizabeth 4
Maria 3
Alice 2
Anna 2
Caroline 2
Catharine 2
Edith 2
Emily 2
Louisa 2
Margaret 2
Phillis 2
Susan 2
Agatha 1
Agnes 1
Amelia 1
Anastasia 1
Ann 1
Annie 1
Augusta 1
Bessie 1
Blanche 1
Elizth.A. 1
Elizth.E. 1
Ella 1
Ellen 1
Emma 1
Eunice 1
Frances 1
Gertrude 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Ida 1
Jane 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Lara 1
Lucy 1
Lydia 1
Madeline 1
Martha 1
Minnie 1
Pearce 1
Rebecca 1
Rose 1
Selina 1
Susannah 1
Suza 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 14
Henry 9
John 9
James 5
Edward 4
Thomas 3
Arthur 2
Bartho. 2
George 2
Michael 2
Walter 2
Bernard 1
Charles 1
Clement 1
Edwin 1
Frances 1
Frederick 1
Halton 1
Harry 1
Jesse 1
Jonathan 1
Legh 1
Percy 1
Richard 1
Samuel 1
Stephen 1
Thos.C. 1
Wilfrid 1

FAQ

Calley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Calley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 194 people were recorded with the Calley surname. That placed it at #13,097 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Calley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 119 in 2016. That gives Calley a modern rank of #27,704.

What does the Calley surname mean?

An English habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "the cold meadow or clearing".

What does the Calley map show?

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