NameCensus.

UK surname

Carsley

Habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "woodland clearing or pasture."

In the 1881 census there were 116 people recorded with the Carsley surname, ranking it #18,126 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 186, ranked #20,575, down from #18,126 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Chirk, Newcastle All Saints and Chester St Oswald, Little St John, Cathedral Church, St Peter, St Bridget, St Martin, Holy Trinity. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Torfaen, Shropshire and Birmingham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Carsley is 187 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 60.3%.

1881 census count

116

Ranked #18,126

Modern count

186

2016, ranked #20,575

Peak year

2015

187 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Carsley had 116 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,126 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 186 in 2016, ranked #20,575.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 181 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Carsley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Carsley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Carsley 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 86 #18,820
1861 historical 144 #15,817
1881 historical 116 #18,126
1891 historical 181 #16,065
1901 historical 143 #18,570
1911 historical 138 #18,811
1997 modern 181 #18,763
1998 modern 182 #19,162
1999 modern 173 #19,935
2000 modern 172 #19,974
2001 modern 173 #19,635
2002 modern 167 #20,457
2003 modern 174 #19,760
2004 modern 166 #20,441
2005 modern 170 #20,066
2006 modern 178 #19,666
2007 modern 174 #20,166
2008 modern 178 #20,094
2009 modern 182 #20,201
2010 modern 185 #20,453
2011 modern 176 #20,957
2012 modern 177 #20,836
2013 modern 185 #20,575
2014 modern 182 #20,958
2015 modern 187 #20,502
2016 modern 186 #20,575

Geography

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Where Carsleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Chirk, Newcastle All Saints, Chester St Oswald, Little St John, Cathedral Church, St Peter, St Bridget, St Martin, Holy Trinity, Southampton St Mary and Ellesmere (Ellesmere), Welshampton, Whittington, Halston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Torfaen, Shropshire, Birmingham, St. Helens and Neath Port Talbot. 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 Chirk Shropshire
2 Newcastle All Saints Northumberland
3 Chester St Oswald, Little St John, Cathedral Church, St Peter, St Bridget, St Martin, Holy Trinity Cheshire
4 Southampton St Mary Hampshire
5 Ellesmere (Ellesmere), Welshampton, Whittington, Halston Shropshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Torfaen 003 Torfaen
2 Shropshire 004 Shropshire
3 Birmingham 069 Birmingham
4 St. Helens 020 St. Helens
5 Neath Port Talbot 012 Neath Port Talbot

Forenames

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First names often paired with Carsley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Carsley

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Carsley, 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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Carsley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Carsley household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Carsley 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

Carsley is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Carsley falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Carsley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Carsley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Carsley

The surname Carsley is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated in the county of Yorkshire, where it was derived from a placename referring to a woodland clearing or a farm situated near a woodland area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from the year 1297, where it appears as "de Carseleia." This spelling variation suggests a connection to the Old English words "cærse" (meaning "cress" or "watercress") and "leah" (meaning "woodland clearing" or "meadow").

During the 13th century, the Carsley family appears to have been well-established landowners in the Yorkshire region. Historical records from this period mention a Richard de Carseleia, who served as a sheriff in the county and is believed to have been born around 1220.

By the 16th century, the name had evolved closer to its modern spelling, as evidenced by references to a William Carsley in the parish records of Ripon, Yorkshire, dated 1587. This William Carsley was a prominent merchant and landowner in the area.

Over the centuries, the Carsley name has been associated with various notable individuals, including Sir John Carsley (1602-1677), a member of the English gentry who served as a Member of Parliament for Beverley during the English Civil War.

Another prominent figure was Robert Carsley (1718-1793), an English clergyman and author who published several works on theology and religious studies during his lifetime.

In the 19th century, the name gained further recognition with the accomplishments of Mary Carsley (1844-1923), a pioneering English educator and advocate for women's rights. She founded one of the first schools for girls in London and played a crucial role in promoting educational opportunities for women during the Victorian era.

Other individuals of note bearing the Carsley surname include the English artist and illustrator William Carsley (1867-1941), known for his intricate etchings and engravings, and the British writer and poet Emily Carsley (1880-1962), whose works explored themes of nature and rural life.

While the Carsley name has its origins in the Yorkshire region, it has since spread across various parts of England and beyond, with descendants establishing themselves in different parts of the world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Carsley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Carsley 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. Shropshire leads with 40 Carsleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 42.39x.

County Total Index
Shropshire 40 42.39x
Cheshire 15 6.22x
Denbighshire 13 31.51x
Merionethshire 9 45.02x
Yorkshire 7 0.65x
Montgomeryshire 5 19.98x
Nottinghamshire 5 3.40x
Hampshire 4 1.79x
Lancashire 3 0.23x
Lanarkshire 2 0.57x
Middlesex 2 0.18x
Staffordshire 2 0.54x
Glamorgan 1 0.53x
Lincolnshire 1 0.57x
Northamptonshire 1 0.97x
Northumberland 1 0.62x
Warwickshire 1 0.36x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Chirk in Denbighshire leads with 12 Carsleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1481.48x.

Place Total Index
Chirk 12 1481.48x
Chester St Oswald 8 183.07x
Llanfor 7 1272.73x
Llanyblodwell 7 2000.00x
Oswestry Rural 7 482.76x
Adderley 6 3750.00x
Ellesmere Kenwick 6 15000.00x
Ellesmere 5 308.64x
Llandrinio 5 1666.67x
Nottingham St Mary 5 13.13x
Bowling 4 37.31x
Lower Bebington 4 279.72x
Southampton St Mary 4 28.41x
Oswestry Town 3 99.34x
Pemberton 3 58.03x
Baschurch 2 307.69x
Hoyland Nether 2 75.47x
Llangower 2 2000.00x
Rostherne 2 1428.57x
Stoke Upon Trent 2 5.12x
Whittington 2 253.16x
Birmingham 1 1.09x
Bishops Castle In 1 181.82x
Chester St John Baptist 1 23.09x
Frodingham 1 161.29x
Glasgow 1 1.59x
Gresford Gwersyllt 1 78.13x
Kingstonupon Hull 1 114.94x
Llansilin 1 144.93x
Newbottle 1 526.32x
Old Monkland 1 7.13x
St George Bloomsbury 1 15.95x
Swansea Town 1 6.41x
Throphill 1 10000.00x
Tottenham 1 5.75x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Jane 11
Mary 10
Sarah 6
Emma 3
Florence 3
Annie 2
Charlotte 2
Eliza 2
Elizabeth 2
Margaret 2
Ada 1
Amelia 1
Anne 1
Catherine 1
Edith 1
Emily 1
Fannie 1
Fanny 1
Frances 1
Gertrude 1
Isabella 1
Kate 1
Kathleen 1
Martha 1
Rebecca 1
Zulekia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 11
William 6
Thomas 5
Joseph 4
Samuel 3
Cornelius 2
James 2
Lewis 2
Walter 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Fredk.Wm. 1
George 1
Henry 1
Peter 1
Richard 1
Richd. 1
Robert 1
Thos. 1

FAQ

Carsley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Carsley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 116 people were recorded with the Carsley surname. That placed it at #18,126 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Carsley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 186 in 2016. That gives Carsley a modern rank of #20,575.

What does the Carsley surname mean?

Habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "woodland clearing or pasture."

What does the Carsley map show?

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