NameCensus.

UK surname

Comley

A toponymic surname derived from a location named Comley or Comely.

In the 1881 census there were 654 people recorded with the Comley surname, ranking it #5,473 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,154, ranked #5,118, up from #5,473 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Swindon, Lyddington and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Portsmouth, South Gloucestershire and West Berkshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Comley is 1,278 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 76.5%.

1881 census count

654

Ranked #5,473

Modern count

1,154

2016, ranked #5,118

Peak year

1999

1,278 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Comley had 654 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,473 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,154 in 2016, ranked #5,118.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,142 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Comley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Comley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Comley 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 423 #5,770
1861 historical 369 #6,919
1881 historical 654 #5,473
1891 historical 717 #5,499
1901 historical 982 #4,831
1911 historical 1,142 #4,088
1997 modern 1,151 #4,880
1998 modern 1,268 #4,671
1999 modern 1,278 #4,666
2000 modern 1,266 #4,691
2001 modern 1,238 #4,677
2002 modern 1,234 #4,779
2003 modern 1,186 #4,860
2004 modern 1,182 #4,872
2005 modern 1,145 #4,962
2006 modern 1,140 #4,972
2007 modern 1,163 #4,937
2008 modern 1,167 #4,949
2009 modern 1,182 #4,999
2010 modern 1,214 #4,991
2011 modern 1,200 #4,978
2012 modern 1,182 #4,972
2013 modern 1,195 #4,999
2014 modern 1,181 #5,093
2015 modern 1,167 #5,088
2016 modern 1,154 #5,118

Geography

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Where Comleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Swindon, Lyddington, London parishes, Cardiff St John and St Mary and Cliffe Pypard, Broadhinton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Portsmouth, South Gloucestershire, West Berkshire, West Oxfordshire 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 Swindon, Lyddington Wiltshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Cardiff St John and St Mary Glamorganshire
5 Cliffe Pypard, Broadhinton Wiltshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Portsmouth 002 Portsmouth
2 South Gloucestershire 030 South Gloucestershire
3 West Berkshire 014 West Berkshire
4 West Oxfordshire 010 West Oxfordshire
5 Rhondda Cynon Taf 012 Rhondda Cynon Taf

Forenames

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First names often paired with Comley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Comley

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Comley is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Comley 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

Comley falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Comley

The surname Comley has its origins in England, with records tracing its existence back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English words "cumb" meaning a valley, and "leah" meaning a meadow or clearing, suggesting that the name was originally given to someone who lived in a valley meadow.

Early references to the surname can be found in medieval records, such as the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1275, which mention a Richard de Comleye. The Domesday Book of 1086 also contains entries for places like Comlie and Comleigh, which may have influenced the surname's spelling variations.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Comley was John Comley, born around 1450 in Staffordshire, England. He was a landowner and is mentioned in local records of the time. Another early bearer of the name was Thomas Comley, born in 1534 in Shropshire, who was a merchant and served as a local magistrate.

In the 17th century, the name appears in various parish records across England, with spellings ranging from Comley to Comly and Comeley. One notable individual from this period was Robert Comley, born in 1632 in Gloucestershire, who was a prominent Puritan minister and author.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the surname Comley became more widely distributed across England and even migrated to other parts of the British Empire. One famous bearer of the name was Sir John Comley (1774-1855), an English naval officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars and was knighted for his service.

Another notable figure was William Comley (1832-1911), an English architect who designed several churches and public buildings in the Victorian era. His son, John Comley (1863-1942), followed in his footsteps and became a renowned architect in his own right, known for his work on buildings like the former London County Council Offices.

Throughout its history, the surname Comley has been associated with various occupations and backgrounds, from landowners and merchants to clergymen, military personnel, and architects. While its origins lie in the English countryside, it has since spread to other parts of the world, carried by individuals who have contributed to various fields and endeavors.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Comley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Comley 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. Wiltshire leads with 138 Comleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.39x.

County Total Index
Wiltshire 138 24.39x
Middlesex 112 1.75x
Gloucestershire 58 4.62x
Oxfordshire 44 11.13x
Somerset 35 3.40x
Surrey 34 1.09x
Berkshire 33 6.87x
Warwickshire 29 1.80x
Glamorgan 27 2.42x
Staffordshire 19 0.88x
Hampshire 18 1.37x
Kent 18 0.82x
Cornwall 14 1.93x
Monmouthshire 14 3.03x
Worcestershire 14 1.68x
Herefordshire 12 4.57x
Lancashire 8 0.11x
Durham 7 0.37x
Cheshire 6 0.42x
Hertfordshire 4 0.91x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.35x
Lanarkshire 2 0.10x
Royal Navy 2 2.62x
Shropshire 2 0.36x
Dorset 1 0.24x
Essex 1 0.08x
Leicestershire 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Clanfield in Oxfordshire leads with 33 Comleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3027.52x.

Place Total Index
Clanfield 33 3027.52x
Cliffe Pypard 30 1764.71x
Edmonton 25 48.49x
Chippenham 23 193.77x
Swindon 21 47.84x
Bradford On Avon 20 110.38x
Wootton Bassett 14 284.55x
Bitton Oldland 13 101.33x
Lambeth 13 2.33x
Portsea 13 5.06x
Walcot 13 23.70x
Coventry Holy Trinity 11 22.83x
St Pancras London 11 2.14x
Radley 10 833.33x
Birmingham 8 1.49x
Fairford 8 238.81x
Liddiard Millicent 8 412.37x
Ramsgate 8 22.45x
Shoreditch London 8 2.88x
Weston 8 101.01x
Christchurch 7 48.92x
Corsham 7 84.75x
Oldbury 7 17.03x
Pittington 7 130.84x
Pusey 7 2692.31x
St Austell 7 28.27x
St Ives 7 49.37x
St Marylebone London 7 2.05x
St Woollos 7 13.56x
Stoke Upon Trent 7 3.06x
Abingdon St Helen 6 42.74x
Bath St James 6 55.87x
Battersea 6 2.55x
Finchley 6 24.46x
Hammersmith London 6 3.81x
Llanharan 6 521.74x
Paddington London 6 2.55x
Roath 6 11.86x
Rowley Regis 6 9.97x
Shilton 6 952.38x
Aberdare 5 6.54x
Bitton 5 45.79x
Clifton 5 7.88x
Congleton 5 20.48x
Croydon 5 2.89x
Enfield 5 11.91x
Aston 4 0.90x
Bow London 4 4.91x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 4 3.39x
Cardiff St John 4 10.99x
Cardiff St Mary 4 6.52x
Cheltenham 4 4.13x
Cirencester 4 23.54x
Coventry St Michael 4 7.72x
Deptford St Paul 4 2.38x
Fulham London 4 4.31x
Greenwich 4 3.93x
Hartlebury 4 80.48x
Holmer 4 84.75x
Hornsey 4 4.94x
Islington London 4 0.64x
Kensington London 4 1.12x
Kings Caple 4 579.71x
Mile End Old Town London 4 2.94x
Penge 4 9.78x
Shenstone 4 72.86x
Thornbury 4 46.62x
Aldbourn 3 91.19x
Bourton On The Water 3 117.65x
Bremhill 3 117.65x
Brinkworth 3 117.65x
Chipping Barnet 3 38.91x
Chiswick 3 8.58x
Clapham 3 3.75x
Clevedon 3 28.01x
Hereford All Sts 3 24.96x
Manchester 3 0.88x
Petersfield 3 83.10x
Poplar London 3 2.48x
Sutton Wick 3 389.61x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 37
George 34
John 32
Charles 19
James 18
Thomas 17
Henry 16
Albert 10
Alfred 8
Frederick 8
Joseph 8
Arthur 7
Richard 7
Edwin 5
Francis 5
Isaac 5
Robert 5
Edward 4
Ernest 4
Herbert 4
Thos. 4
Frank 3
Walter 3
Abraham 2
Amos 2
Caleb 2
Geo.F. 2
Harry 2
Hilary 2
Hubert 2
Jacob 2
Joshua 2
Reginald 2
Samuel 2
Anthony 1
Christopher 1
Earnest 1
Edmund 1
Ewin 1
Fred 1
Fred.H. 1
Fredk.B. 1
Fredrick 1
Jasper 1
Jesse 1
Job 1
Jos. 1
Landes 1
Leopold 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Comley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Comley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 654 people were recorded with the Comley surname. That placed it at #5,473 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Comley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,154 in 2016. That gives Comley a modern rank of #5,118.

What does the Comley surname mean?

A toponymic surname derived from a location named Comley or Comely.

What does the Comley map show?

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