NameCensus.

UK surname

Charley

Derived from Old English "ceorl" or "churl," meaning a free peasant of low birth or a person of low status.

In the 1881 census there were 300 people recorded with the Charley surname, ranking it #9,724 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 295, ranked #14,915, down from #9,724 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Llandaff (incl. Canton), Leckwith. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Devon, Coventry and North Warwickshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Charley is 464 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 1.7%.

1881 census count

300

Ranked #9,724

Modern count

295

2016, ranked #14,915

Peak year

1861

464 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Charley had 300 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,724 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 295 in 2016, ranked #14,915.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 464 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Charley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Charley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Charley 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 247 #8,868
1861 historical 464 #5,600
1881 historical 300 #9,724
1891 historical 424 #8,446
1901 historical 367 #10,076
1911 historical 419 #8,985
1997 modern 292 #13,765
1998 modern 282 #14,472
1999 modern 288 #14,346
2000 modern 284 #14,457
2001 modern 280 #14,364
2002 modern 287 #14,402
2003 modern 276 #14,604
2004 modern 279 #14,578
2005 modern 270 #14,822
2006 modern 274 #14,769
2007 modern 270 #15,080
2008 modern 280 #14,823
2009 modern 290 #14,778
2010 modern 292 #15,018
2011 modern 297 #14,698
2012 modern 295 #14,670
2013 modern 296 #14,876
2014 modern 306 #14,647
2015 modern 294 #14,971
2016 modern 295 #14,915

Geography

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Where Charleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Llandaff (incl. Canton), Leckwith, Birmingham Town: Birmingham and Cardiff St John and St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Devon, Coventry, North Warwickshire and Rhondda Cynon Taf. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Llandaff (incl. Canton), Leckwith Glamorganshire
4 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire
5 Cardiff St John and St Mary Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Devon 006 North Devon
2 Coventry 029 Coventry
3 North Warwickshire 007 North Warwickshire
4 Rhondda Cynon Taf 031 Rhondda Cynon Taf
5 Coventry 023 Coventry

Forenames

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First names often paired with Charley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Charley

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Charley is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Charley 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

Charley 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 Charley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Charley

The surname Charley originated in England during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old English personal name "Ceorl," which referred to a free peasant or common man. The name Ceorl was often used as a distinguishing name to identify individuals from a particular region or village.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a record of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror, there are several entries for individuals with the name Ceorl or its variations, such as Cherl, Cherle, and Charle. This suggests that the name was already well-established in various parts of the country by the late 11th century.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Charley can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, where a man named Radulfus Charle is mentioned. This spelling variation indicates that the name had already evolved from its Old English roots.

During the Middle Ages, the name Charley was often associated with places or settlements where these individuals resided. For example, in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, there is a reference to a village called "Charleye" in Buckinghamshire, which likely took its name from a local landholder or prominent resident with the surname Charley.

One notable historical figure with the surname Charley was Sir John Charley (c. 1350-1418), a member of the English gentry from Somerset. He served as a Member of Parliament for Somerset in the early 15th century and was involved in local governance and administration.

Another individual of note was William Charley (c. 1475-1539), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Lincolnshire. He was a prominent figure in the wool trade and owned several properties in the region.

In the 16th century, the surname Charley appeared in various spelling variations, such as Charleigh, Charlay, and Charlie. One example is Thomas Charleigh (c. 1530-1592), a clergyman who served as the Dean of Lincoln Cathedral from 1579 until his death.

During the 17th century, the surname Charley gained prominence in London and the surrounding areas. One notable figure was Richard Charley (1617-1680), a successful merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Grocers in the City of London.

In the 18th century, the name Charley was also found in other parts of England, such as the north and the Midlands. For instance, John Charley (1737-1813) was a prominent industrialist from Yorkshire who owned several textile mills and played a significant role in the region's industrial development.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Charley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Charley 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. Warwickshire leads with 82 Charleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.07x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 82 11.07x
Devon 43 7.04x
Middlesex 35 1.19x
Gloucestershire 31 5.38x
Glamorgan 24 4.69x
Somerset 20 4.23x
Staffordshire 19 1.92x
Lancashire 17 0.49x
Hampshire 9 1.50x
Cornwall 5 1.50x
Worcestershire 5 1.30x
Cumberland 2 0.79x
Surrey 2 0.14x
Yorkshire 2 0.07x
Durham 1 0.11x
Essex 1 0.17x
Herefordshire 1 0.83x
Kent 1 0.10x
Royal Navy 1 2.86x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Coventry St Michael in Warwickshire leads with 52 Charleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 218.67x.

Place Total Index
Coventry St Michael 52 218.67x
Llandaff 19 111.70x
Coventry Holy Trinity 13 58.80x
Fivehead 11 2619.05x
Aston 10 4.90x
Mile End Old Town London 10 16.00x
West Bromwich 10 17.62x
Manchester 9 5.74x
Southampton St Mary 9 23.78x
Awre 8 672.27x
Bristol St George 8 30.04x
Harborne 8 25.19x
Barnstaple 7 72.99x
Plymstock 7 218.75x
Bethnal Green London 6 4.70x
Birmingham 6 2.43x
Hackney London 6 3.65x
Crumpsall 5 60.90x
Kentisbury 5 1428.57x
Kings Norton 5 14.54x
Stoke Damerel 5 11.69x
Bedminster 4 9.01x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 4 7.38x
Longhope 4 408.16x
North Tamerton 4 833.33x
Bridgewater 3 23.38x
Bristol Temple 3 79.16x
Cardiff St Mary 3 10.65x
Chelsea London 3 3.39x
Pilton 3 148.51x
Tormoham 3 11.60x
Wigan 3 6.16x
Fremington 2 161.29x
Islington London 2 0.70x
Lambeth 2 0.78x
Leeds 2 1.22x
Lynton 2 163.93x
Newland 2 41.32x
Paddington London 2 1.85x
Plymouth Charles The 2 7.43x
Plymouth St Andrew 2 4.25x
St Cuthbert W O 2 16.23x
St Pancras London 2 0.85x
Arlington 1 434.78x
Bath St Peter St Paul 1 47.85x
Bishopwearmouth 1 1.33x
Chard 1 17.48x
Cheriton 1 24.51x
Chudleigh 1 51.55x
Clifton 1 3.44x
Combmartin 1 75.19x
East Ham 1 9.29x
Eastdown 1 277.78x
Handsworth 1 4.09x
Hartland 1 52.63x
Hereford St Nicholas 1 60.98x
Leamington Priors 1 5.49x
Penarth 1 20.00x
Penmark 1 208.33x
St Andrew Holborn London 1 7.87x
St Anne Soho London 1 5.96x
St Botolph Aldersgate 1 29.67x
St Marylebone London 1 0.64x
St Neot 1 76.34x
Stroud 1 8.92x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 22
Elizabeth 13
Ann 9
Sarah 7
Jane 5
Amelia 4
Hannah 4
Ada 3
Alice 3
Annie 3
Charlotte 3
Ellen 3
Emma 3
Florence 3
Louisa 3
Agnes 2
Bessie 2
Caroline 2
Eliza 2
Fanny 2
Frances 2
Harriet 2
Kate 2
Laura 2
Lizzie 2
Lucy 2
Margaret 2
Maria 2
Rose 2
Sophia 2
Cherity 1
Cleo 1
Constance 1
Delia 1
Elizbth. 1
Eloe 1
Emily 1
Esther 1
Evelyn 1
Frederick 1
Grace 1
Julia 1
Kathrine 1
Keziah 1
Lousia 1
Lydia 1
Mabel 1
Madilena 1
Maude 1
Theresa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 27
John 15
James 9
Thomas 8
George 7
Henry 6
Joseph 6
Alfred 5
Richard 5
Samuel 5
Charles 4
Frank 4
Walter 4
Albert 3
Frederick 3
Robert 3
Arthur 2
David 2
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Fred 2
Sir 2
Wm. 2
Abraham 1
Adolphes 1
Alexander 1
Amos 1
Augustus 1
Benjamin 1
Chas.J. 1
Christy 1
Edgar 1
Evan 1
Fredrick 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Hugh 1
Jesse 1
Michl. 1
Richarlet 1
Titus 1
Tom 1

FAQ

Charley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Charley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 300 people were recorded with the Charley surname. That placed it at #9,724 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Charley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 295 in 2016. That gives Charley a modern rank of #14,915.

What does the Charley surname mean?

Derived from Old English "ceorl" or "churl," meaning a free peasant of low birth or a person of low status.

What does the Charley map show?

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