UK surname
A habitational surname derived from the town of Canley in England.
In the 1881 census there were 38 people recorded with the Canley surname, ranking it #28,285 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2, ranked #38,825, down from #28,285 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Harborne, Clanfield and St George in the East. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Canley is 152 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 94.7%.
1881 census count
38
Ranked #28,285
Modern count
2
2016, ranked #38,825
Peak year
1861
152 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Canley surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Canley surname density by area, 1891 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 | 79 | #19,712 |
| 1861 | historical | 152 | #15,126 |
| 1881 | historical | 38 | #28,285 |
| 1891 | historical | 106 | #23,105 |
| 1901 | historical | 25 | #31,259 |
| 1911 | historical | 49 | #27,894 |
| 1997 | modern | 4 | #38,094 |
| 1998 | modern | 6 | #37,703 |
| 1999 | modern | 6 | #37,696 |
| 2000 | modern | 4 | #38,004 |
| 2001 | modern | 4 | #37,862 |
| 2002 | modern | 5 | #37,723 |
| 2003 | modern | 5 | #37,750 |
| 2004 | modern | 8 | #37,346 |
| 2005 | modern | 7 | #37,581 |
| 2006 | modern | 7 | #37,634 |
| 2007 | modern | 6 | #37,837 |
| 2008 | modern | 7 | #37,735 |
| 2009 | modern | 8 | #37,689 |
| 2010 | modern | 11 | #37,411 |
| 2011 | modern | 7 | #37,865 |
| 2012 | modern | 1 | #38,986 |
| 2013 | modern | 1 | #39,008 |
| 2014 | modern | 2 | #38,791 |
| 2015 | modern | 2 | #38,793 |
| 2016 | modern | 2 | #38,825 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Harborne, Clanfield, St George in the East, Tarvin and Liverpool. 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 | Harborne | Worcestershire |
| 2 | Clanfield | Oxfordshire |
| 3 | St George in the East | London (East Districts) |
| 4 | Tarvin | Cheshire |
| 5 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Canley 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 Canley, 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 Canley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Canley 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, Canley 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 Canley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Canley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Canley originated in England, with its earliest known references dating back to the 12th century. The name is believed to be derived from the Old English words "canu" and "leah," meaning "cane" and "clearing" or "meadow," respectively. It likely referred to an area where reeds or canes grew abundantly.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Warwickshire from 1195, where a person named Radulfus de Canlegh is mentioned. This suggests that the surname may have originated from a place name, possibly referring to the village of Canley, now a suburb of Coventry.
In the 13th century, the name appears in various forms, such as Canleye, Canlega, and Canlegh, reflecting the variations in spelling during that time. The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list a Richard de Canleye from Buckinghamshire, providing further evidence of the name's early use.
The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname Canley. However, it does mention several places with similar names, such as Candelesby in Lincolnshire and Candelan in Shropshire, suggesting that the name may have originated from one of these locations.
Notable individuals with the surname Canley include:
1. John Canley (c. 1420 - 1486), an English lawyer and Member of Parliament for Warwick during the reign of Henry VI. 2. William Canley (1575 - 1636), a prominent merchant and landowner in Gloucestershire, known for his philanthropic efforts in supporting local churches and schools. 3. Elizabeth Canley (1621 - 1692), an English Quaker and early settler in Pennsylvania, who was instrumental in establishing the first Quaker meeting house in Philadelphia. 4. James Canley (1789 - 1857), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars and later became a prominent advocate for sailors' rights. 5. Henry Canley (1838 - 1911), an American Civil War veteran who fought for the Union Army and later became a successful businessman and philanthropist in his hometown of Canley, Ohio.
While the surname Canley is not among the most common in English-speaking countries today, its rich history and varied origins reflect the diverse backgrounds and settlements that have contributed to the tapestry of surnames in the English language.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Canley 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. Warwickshire leads with 12 Canleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.85x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Warwickshire | 12 | 12.85x |
| Lancashire | 8 | 1.82x |
| Middlesex | 5 | 1.35x |
| Surrey | 5 | 2.77x |
| Shropshire | 2 | 6.25x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 0.54x |
| Devon | 1 | 1.30x |
| Durham | 1 | 0.91x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 1.32x |
| Monmouthshire | 1 | 3.73x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 7 Canleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.49x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | 7 | 22.49x |
| Coventry St Michael | 5 | 166.67x |
| Lambeth | 5 | 15.48x |
| Barrow In Furness | 4 | 66.89x |
| Great Bolton | 4 | 68.73x |
| Shrewsbury St Mary | 2 | 158.73x |
| St George In East London | 2 | 57.47x |
| Axminster | 1 | 277.78x |
| Doncaster | 1 | 37.31x |
| Ecclesfield | 1 | 37.17x |
| Hedworth Monkton Jarrow | 1 | 20.96x |
| Portsea | 1 | 6.72x |
| Spitalfields London | 1 | 35.84x |
| St George Hanover Square | 1 | 15.31x |
| St Giles In Fields London | 1 | 54.95x |
| St Woollos | 1 | 33.44x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Canley 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 Canley 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 Canley households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 11 |
| Carman | 1 |
| Cotton Operative | 1 |
| Dock Laborer | 1 |
| Engine Fitter | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| Hotel Porter | 1 |
| House Painter | 1 |
| House Painter Wife | 1 |
| Independent | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Shoe Black | 1 |
| Shop Keeper | 1 |
| Soldier 59th Foot | 1 |
| Tailor | 1 |
| Watch Dial Cutter | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 38 people were recorded with the Canley surname. That placed it at #28,285 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 2 in 2016. That gives Canley a modern rank of #38,825.
A habitational surname derived from the town of Canley in England.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Canley 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.