UK surname
A locative or residential surname derived from a place name.
In the 1881 census there were 104 people recorded with the Conly surname, ranking it #19,296 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1, ranked #39,061, down from #19,296 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Kirkintilloch, Toxteth Park and Newcastle All Saints. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Conly is 182 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 99.0%.
1881 census count
104
Ranked #19,296
Modern count
1
2016, ranked #39,061
Peak year
1851
182 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1881
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Conly surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Conly surname density by area, 1881 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 | 182 | #11,209 |
| 1861 | historical | 167 | #13,956 |
| 1881 | historical | 104 | #19,296 |
| 1891 | historical | 98 | #24,313 |
| 1901 | historical | 72 | #26,162 |
| 1911 | historical | 19 | #31,416 |
| 1997 | modern | 5 | #37,891 |
| 1998 | modern | 5 | #37,861 |
| 1999 | modern | 7 | #37,513 |
| 2000 | modern | 3 | #38,248 |
| 2001 | modern | 1 | #38,647 |
| 2002 | modern | 4 | #37,921 |
| 2003 | modern | 4 | #37,951 |
| 2004 | modern | 4 | #38,013 |
| 2005 | modern | 4 | #38,078 |
| 2006 | modern | 2 | #38,590 |
| 2007 | modern | 2 | #38,617 |
| 2008 | modern | 1 | #38,949 |
| 2009 | modern | 1 | #38,998 |
| 2016 | modern | 1 | #39,061 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Kirkintilloch, Toxteth Park, Newcastle All Saints, Manchester and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. 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 | Kirkintilloch | Dunbarton |
| 2 | Toxteth Park | Lancashire |
| 3 | Newcastle All Saints | Northumberland |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry | Forfar |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Conly 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 Conly, 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 Conly surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Conly 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, Conly 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 Conly is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Conly, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Conly originated in Ireland and is believed to have derived from the Irish Gaelic word "conligh," which means "man of valor" or "brave warrior." The name is thought to have emerged in the 12th century and was initially concentrated in County Cork and surrounding areas.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Conly can be found in the "Annals of the Four Masters," a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the early 17th century. The annals mention a notable figure named Conligh O'Conligan, who lived in the 13th century and was a prominent leader in County Cork.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, as Ireland experienced significant upheaval and conflict, many Conly families were forced to migrate to other parts of Ireland and beyond. This led to the spread of the name across various regions, including counties such as Limerick, Tipperary, and Kilkenny.
The variant spelling "Conley" emerged during this period, likely due to the anglicization of the Irish name by English scribes and record-keepers. Some notable individuals with this surname include:
1. John Conly (1645-1719), an Irish Catholic priest and writer who authored several religious works. 2. Patrick Conley (1776-1854), an Irish-American soldier who served in the War of 1812 and later settled in Ohio. 3. Mary Conly (1799-1874), an Irish-born philanthropist and activist who worked to improve the living conditions of the poor in New York City. 4. Bernard Conley (1840-1905), an Irish-American lawyer and politician who served as the Mayor of Atlanta, Georgia, from 1890 to 1892. 5. Evan Conly (1874-1949), an Irish-American artist and illustrator known for his depictions of rural life in the American West.
As the Conly name spread globally through emigration, it became associated with various place names and locations where families settled. For example, the town of Conley in North Carolina is believed to have been named after an early settler with the Conly surname.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Conly 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. Lancashire leads with 15 Conlys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.26x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 15 | 1.26x |
| Glamorgan | 14 | 8.00x |
| East Lothian | 10 | 75.13x |
| Lanarkshire | 10 | 3.08x |
| Kent | 8 | 2.33x |
| Northumberland | 8 | 5.35x |
| Durham | 6 | 2.01x |
| Selkirkshire | 6 | 66.01x |
| Yorkshire | 6 | 0.60x |
| Middlesex | 4 | 0.40x |
| Midlothian | 3 | 2.23x |
| Angus | 2 | 2.15x |
| Ayrshire | 2 | 2.66x |
| Renfrewshire | 2 | 2.57x |
| Surrey | 2 | 0.41x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.45x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.50x |
| Fife | 1 | 1.68x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 0.51x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 0.76x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Baglan Lower in Glamorgan leads with 9 Conlys recorded in 1881 and an index of 5000.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Baglan Lower | 9 | 5000.00x |
| Garvald | 9 | 3461.54x |
| Higham | 8 | 1739.13x |
| Everton | 6 | 15.79x |
| Galashiels | 6 | 178.57x |
| Newcastle On Tyne All Sts | 6 | 67.19x |
| Carluke | 5 | 169.49x |
| Holbeck | 5 | 75.76x |
| Roath | 4 | 50.31x |
| Edinburgh St Cuthberts | 3 | 5.54x |
| Heworth | 3 | 50.93x |
| Barony | 2 | 2.43x |
| Battersea | 2 | 5.41x |
| Broughton In Salford | 2 | 18.35x |
| Elswick | 2 | 16.76x |
| West Greenock | 2 | 14.31x |
| Auckinleck | 1 | 42.92x |
| Ballantrae | 1 | 200.00x |
| Ballingry | 1 | 270.27x |
| Berwick North | 1 | 107.53x |
| Bow London | 1 | 7.82x |
| Bromley London | 1 | 4.52x |
| Chelsea London | 1 | 3.30x |
| Chester St Bridget | 1 | 263.16x |
| Chorlton On Medlock | 1 | 5.28x |
| Coxhoe | 1 | 117.65x |
| Dundee | 1 | 2.88x |
| Eccleston In Prescot | 1 | 16.72x |
| Govan | 1 | 1.24x |
| Great Crosby | 1 | 30.77x |
| Liff Benvie | 1 | 7.08x |
| Manchester | 1 | 1.87x |
| Maryhill | 1 | 15.72x |
| Merthyr Tydfil | 1 | 5.95x |
| New Monkland | 1 | 10.42x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 2.71x |
| Salford | 1 | 2.85x |
| Staunton | 1 | 714.29x |
| Toxteth Park | 1 | 2.48x |
| West Ham | 1 | 2.28x |
| Westbury On Trym | 1 | 14.97x |
| Westoe | 1 | 5.90x |
| Widnes | 1 | 11.63x |
| Willington | 1 | 57.80x |
| York St Saviour | 1 | 105.26x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Conly 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 Conly 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 Conly households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 16 |
| Charwoman | 2 |
| Cheml Labr | 2 |
| Domestic Servant | 2 |
| Apprentice Painter | 1 |
| Basket Maker | 1 |
| Beer House Keeper ((Publican)) | 1 |
| Cab Driver | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Dealer | 1 |
| Dom Servt | 1 |
| Domestic Servant General | 1 |
| Engineer (M) | 1 |
| Factory Worker Finisher | 1 |
| Farm Labourer | 1 |
| Gardener | 1 |
| Genl Laborer | 1 |
| Lab | 1 |
| Laborer | 1 |
| Laborer At Docks Serv | 1 |
| Laborer At Docks Serv Wife | 1 |
| Laborers Daur | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Machinist Sewing | 1 |
| Nurse (Dom) | 1 |
| Pudler In Iron Works | 1 |
| Purifier Of Gas | 1 |
| Shipwright | 1 |
| Silk Merchant | 1 |
| Waiter In Hotel | 1 |
| Wife | 1 |
| Working In The Iron Works | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 104 people were recorded with the Conly surname. That placed it at #19,296 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 1 in 2016. That gives Conly a modern rank of #39,061.
A locative or residential surname derived from a place name.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Conly 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.