NameCensus.

UK surname

Colley

Derived from a place name meaning "dark wood" or from the Old English word for "coal-black," referring to dark features.

In the 1881 census there were 3,782 people recorded with the Colley surname, ranking it #1,211 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5,776, ranked #1,161, up from #1,211 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Stoke-on-Trent, Bucknell-cum-Bagnall, Caverswall and Sheffield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Pembrokeshire, Shropshire and Rotherham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Colley is 6,119 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 52.7%.

1881 census count

3,782

Ranked #1,211

Modern count

5,776

2016, ranked #1,161

Peak year

2010

6,119 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Colley had 3,782 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,211 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 5,776 in 2016, ranked #1,161.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5,355 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Colley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Colley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Colley 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 2,387 #1,249
1861 historical 2,513 #1,164
1881 historical 3,782 #1,211
1891 historical 4,123 #1,165
1901 historical 4,798 #1,180
1911 historical 5,355 #975
1997 modern 5,761 #1,138
1998 modern 6,104 #1,114
1999 modern 6,105 #1,123
2000 modern 6,075 #1,122
2001 modern 5,929 #1,122
2002 modern 6,057 #1,124
2003 modern 5,964 #1,109
2004 modern 5,980 #1,110
2005 modern 5,870 #1,110
2006 modern 5,870 #1,109
2007 modern 5,940 #1,108
2008 modern 5,960 #1,114
2009 modern 6,032 #1,124
2010 modern 6,119 #1,131
2011 modern 5,995 #1,133
2012 modern 5,852 #1,135
2013 modern 5,932 #1,140
2014 modern 5,945 #1,149
2015 modern 5,842 #1,152
2016 modern 5,776 #1,161

Geography

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Where Colleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Stoke-on-Trent, Bucknell-cum-Bagnall, Caverswall and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Pembrokeshire, Shropshire, Rotherham and Dudley. 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 London parishes London 3
3 Stoke-on-Trent, Bucknell-cum-Bagnall, Caverswall Staffordshire
4 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Pembrokeshire 014 Pembrokeshire
2 Shropshire 030 Shropshire
3 Rotherham 020 Rotherham
4 Rotherham 025 Rotherham
5 Dudley 013 Dudley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Colley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Colley

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Colley is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Colley is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Colley falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Colley

The surname Colley originates from England, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from a medieval nickname referring to someone with a coal-black complexion or dark features, stemming from the Old English word "col," meaning coal or charcoal.

Early records of the name can be found in various historical documents, including the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, which mentions a John Colley. The Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327 also lists a William Colley.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Sir Henry Colley, a prominent English knight who lived in the 14th century. He served under King Edward III and participated in the Hundred Years' War against France.

The Colley surname has also been associated with various place names, such as Colley Gate in Yorkshire and Colley Hill in Wiltshire. These place names may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.

In the 16th century, a notable figure with the Colley surname was Sir John Colley (c. 1509-1572), an English politician and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another prominent individual with this surname was Henry Colley (1742-1836), an Irish-born British general who served in the American Revolutionary War and later became the Governor of Guernsey.

During the 18th century, the Colley family had a strong presence in County Lincolnshire, England, with several members holding influential positions in the local community.

One of the most famous bearers of the Colley surname was Bâb Eddin Ismail ibn Ibrahim, also known as Nureddin Colley (1475-1567), a renowned Turkish historian and philosopher who authored several influential works on Islamic theology and jurisprudence.

In the 19th century, Lady Constance Colley (1839-1923) was a notable British author and philanthropist who worked to improve education and living conditions for women and children in London's East End.

Overall, the surname Colley has a rich history spanning several centuries and has been borne by individuals from diverse backgrounds, including knights, politicians, military officers, scholars, and authors.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Colley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Colley 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. Yorkshire leads with 885 Colleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.41x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 885 2.41x
Staffordshire 428 3.42x
Lancashire 306 0.70x
Middlesex 296 0.80x
Worcestershire 256 5.29x
Shropshire 180 5.63x
Warwickshire 143 1.53x
Surrey 117 0.65x
Cheshire 98 1.20x
Kent 97 0.77x
Somerset 89 1.49x
Herefordshire 82 5.40x
Durham 75 0.68x
Denbighshire 58 4.15x
Lincolnshire 58 0.98x
Glamorgan 49 0.76x
Gloucestershire 48 0.66x
Montgomeryshire 45 5.30x
Hampshire 43 0.57x
Essex 36 0.49x
Nottinghamshire 34 0.68x
Northumberland 33 0.60x
Derbyshire 32 0.55x
Pembrokeshire 31 2.63x
Hertfordshire 27 1.06x
Wiltshire 27 0.82x
Devon 21 0.27x
Northamptonshire 18 0.52x
Lanarkshire 16 0.13x
Midlothian 16 0.32x
Berkshire 15 0.54x
Leicestershire 15 0.37x
Sussex 15 0.24x
Buckinghamshire 14 0.63x
Monmouthshire 13 0.49x
Aberdeenshire 12 0.35x
Flintshire 12 1.21x
Channel Islands 11 1.00x
Dorset 8 0.33x
Norfolk 8 0.14x
Oxfordshire 5 0.22x
Royal Navy 5 1.13x
Perthshire 4 0.24x
Cumberland 3 0.09x
Brecknockshire 2 0.27x
Cornwall 2 0.05x
Rutland 2 0.74x
Angus 1 0.03x
Bedfordshire 1 0.05x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.07x
Cardiganshire 1 0.11x
Fife 1 0.05x
Renfrewshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Upon Trent in Staffordshire leads with 69 Colleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.21x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Upon Trent 69 5.21x
Birmingham 54 1.74x
Leeds 53 2.56x
Kingswinford 50 11.02x
West Bromwich 50 6.99x
Aston 46 1.79x
Sheffield 40 3.42x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 39 22.88x
Holy Trinity 38 4.31x
Sedgley 38 8.19x
Wellington 37 20.58x
Bilston 35 14.45x
Scarborough 31 9.30x
Bermondsey 30 2.72x
Filey 30 101.18x
Portsea 30 2.02x
Hammersmith London 28 3.07x
Kensington London 26 1.26x
Holbeck 25 10.28x
Lofthouse Cum Carlton 25 55.90x
Oldham 25 1.76x
Sculcoates 25 4.30x
Tipton 25 6.53x
Watford 24 12.13x
Bethnal Green London 22 1.37x
Lambeth 22 0.68x
Pembroke St Michael 22 129.03x
Stoke Prior 22 73.75x
Wootton Rivers 22 446.25x
Ecclesall Bierlow 21 2.81x
Liverpool 21 0.79x
York St Mary 21 13.82x
Dudley 20 3.40x
Leominster 20 31.83x
Dawley 19 16.32x
Islington London 19 0.53x
Manchester 19 0.96x
Bedminster 18 3.21x
Brightside Bierlow 18 2.50x
Castle Cary 18 69.31x
Nether Hallam 18 3.63x
Preston 18 1.53x
Roath 18 6.15x
Wolverhampton 18 1.87x
Crigglestone 17 48.10x
Nawton 17 382.02x
St George Hanover Square 17 2.61x
Swillington 17 162.99x
Castle Caereinion 16 210.25x
Featherstone 16 38.83x
Gateshead 16 1.94x
Peckforton 16 606.06x
Skirbeck 16 48.22x
Battersea 15 1.10x
Radcliffe 15 7.08x
Ruabon 15 7.80x
Tottenham 15 2.54x
Chatham 14 4.03x
Chelsea London 14 1.25x
Ribbesford 14 34.79x
Willenhall 14 5.98x
Ellesmere 13 23.67x
Kerry 13 50.94x
Mansfield 13 7.53x
Toxteth Park 13 0.87x
Brackley St Peter 12 50.23x
Cardiff St Mary 12 3.38x
Great Little Preston 12 114.07x
Hackney London 12 0.58x
Marchwiel 12 167.60x
Newington 12 0.88x
Tonbridge 12 2.63x
Wednesfield 12 6.52x
Broseley 11 19.35x
Droitwich St Peter 11 101.10x
Edgmond 11 31.24x
Kidderminster Foreign 11 16.09x
Ombersley 11 40.83x
St Pancras London 11 0.37x
Worsley 11 4.06x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 270
Sarah 147
Elizabeth 138
Ann 93
Jane 76
Eliza 67
Emma 64
Alice 57
Annie 48
Ellen 44
Hannah 40
Emily 39
Harriet 31
Martha 31
Margaret 27
Ada 26
Louisa 24
Maria 23
Charlotte 22
Fanny 22
Caroline 21
Clara 20
Edith 20
Florence 19
Amelia 16
Frances 16
Isabella 15
Anne 14
Lucy 14
Catherine 12
Grace 12
Kate 12
Agnes 11
Rebecca 11
Rose 11
Ethel 10
Julia 10
Matilda 10
Esther 9
Minnie 9
Susannah 9
Elizth. 8
Harriett 8
Selina 8
Susan 8
Amy 7
Eleanor 6
Jessie 6
Laura 6
Rachel 6

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 235
John 227
George 144
Thomas 137
James 110
Charles 90
Henry 71
Joseph 64
Robert 60
Richard 56
Edward 44
Albert 33
Arthur 30
Alfred 26
Francis 24
Benjamin 23
Samuel 23
Edwin 22
Walter 22
Harry 19
Frederick 15
Herbert 12
Frank 11
Thos. 11
Ernest 10
Isaac 9
Tom 9
Christopher 7
Fredrick 7
Geo. 7
Wm. 7
Chas. 6
Enoch 6
Ralph 6
Andrew 5
Reuben 5
David 4
Hugh 4
Josiah 4
Alexander 3
Elijah 3
Israel 3
Jesse 3
Joe 3
Lewis 3
Mark 3
Matthew 3
Noah 3
Cecil 2
Jeremiah 2

FAQ

Colley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Colley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,782 people were recorded with the Colley surname. That placed it at #1,211 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Colley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 5,776 in 2016. That gives Colley a modern rank of #1,161.

What does the Colley surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "dark wood" or from the Old English word for "coal-black," referring to dark features.

What does the Colley map show?

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