NameCensus.

UK surname

Corley

Derived from the Irish surname "Mac Thoirdealbhaigh," meaning "son of Toirdhealbhach," which translates to "instigator" or "troublemaker."

In the 1881 census there were 450 people recorded with the Corley surname, ranking it #7,321 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 845, ranked #6,616, up from #7,321 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Witham, London parishes and St Albans or The Abbey. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Newark and Sherwood, Vale of White Horse and King's Lynn and West Norfolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Corley is 909 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 87.8%.

1881 census count

450

Ranked #7,321

Modern count

845

2016, ranked #6,616

Peak year

1998

909 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Corley had 450 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,321 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 845 in 2016, ranked #6,616.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 651 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Corley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Corley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Corley 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 328 #7,098
1861 historical 407 #6,306
1881 historical 450 #7,321
1891 historical 577 #6,605
1901 historical 542 #7,601
1911 historical 651 #6,434
1997 modern 864 #6,158
1998 modern 909 #6,111
1999 modern 895 #6,227
2000 modern 867 #6,355
2001 modern 860 #6,285
2002 modern 860 #6,411
2003 modern 823 #6,497
2004 modern 815 #6,561
2005 modern 801 #6,611
2006 modern 818 #6,500
2007 modern 809 #6,622
2008 modern 815 #6,640
2009 modern 832 #6,674
2010 modern 863 #6,613
2011 modern 850 #6,617
2012 modern 857 #6,489
2013 modern 864 #6,553
2014 modern 870 #6,536
2015 modern 858 #6,548
2016 modern 845 #6,616

Geography

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Where Corleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Witham, London parishes, St Albans or The Abbey and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Newark and Sherwood, Vale of White Horse, King's Lynn and West Norfolk and St Albans. 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 Witham Essex
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Albans or The Abbey Hertfordshire
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Newark and Sherwood 011 Newark and Sherwood
2 Vale of White Horse 007 Vale of White Horse
3 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 017 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
4 St Albans 006 St Albans
5 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 018 King's Lynn and West Norfolk

Forenames

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First names often paired with Corley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Corley

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Corley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Corley household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Corley 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

Corley is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Corley 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 Corley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Corley

The surname Corley has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to be a locational name derived from the village of Corley, which is located in the county of Warwickshire. The name is thought to have evolved from the Old English words "cor" meaning a bend or curve, and "leah" meaning a woodland clearing or meadow.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire from 1199, where a Robert de Corleye is mentioned. The name also appears in the Curia Regis Rolls of Warwickshire from 1221, with a reference to a Hugo de Corleye.

In the 13th century, the name was spelled in various ways, including Corleye, Corlie, and Corleigh, reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling at the time. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 contain an entry for a Richard de Corley in Warwickshire.

A notable figure in history with the surname Corley was Sir John Corley (c. 1530–1592), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Warwickshire in the latter half of the 16th century.

During the English Civil War in the 17th century, a Captain Francis Corley (c. 1610–1670) fought on the Parliamentarian side and is mentioned in several dispatches and records from the conflict.

In the 18th century, a prominent figure was the Reverend Samuel Corley (1717–1801), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of St. Mary's Church in Warwick.

In the 19th century, Elizabeth Corley (1823–1892) gained recognition as an English painter and watercolorist, known for her landscapes and still-life works.

Another notable bearer of the name was Sir Herbert Corley (1875–1945), a British military officer who served in the Boer War and World War I, eventually rising to the rank of Lieutenant-General.

Over the centuries, the surname Corley has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Corley Ash, Corley Rocks, and Corley Moor, all located in the vicinity of the original village of Corley in Warwickshire.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Corley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Corley 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. Lancashire leads with 80 Corleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.51x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 80 1.51x
Middlesex 69 1.55x
Yorkshire 38 0.86x
Essex 33 3.75x
Surrey 31 1.43x
Hertfordshire 30 9.76x
Norfolk 30 4.38x
Kent 21 1.38x
Suffolk 18 3.32x
Cheshire 13 1.32x
Staffordshire 9 0.60x
Nottinghamshire 8 1.33x
Shropshire 8 2.08x
Warwickshire 8 0.71x
Cambridgeshire 7 2.48x
Channel Islands 7 5.30x
Durham 6 0.45x
Lincolnshire 6 0.84x
Wiltshire 5 1.27x
Lanarkshire 4 0.28x
Northamptonshire 4 0.95x
Northumberland 4 0.60x
Hampshire 3 0.33x
Berkshire 2 0.60x
Glamorgan 2 0.26x
Gloucestershire 2 0.23x
Leicestershire 2 0.40x
Bedfordshire 1 0.43x
Derbyshire 1 0.14x
Devon 1 0.11x
Dorset 1 0.34x
Renfrewshire 1 0.29x
Somerset 1 0.14x
Worcestershire 1 0.17x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Witham in Essex leads with 24 Corleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 529.80x.

Place Total Index
Witham 24 529.80x
St Albans 22 349.21x
Islington London 16 3.70x
Camberwell 15 5.27x
Oldham 10 5.86x
St George Hanover Square 10 12.73x
Stow Bedon 10 2040.82x
Bingley 9 31.99x
Prescot 9 94.04x
Chorley 8 26.95x
Lambeth 8 2.06x
Clitheroe 7 44.96x
Folkestone 7 23.73x
Hipperholme Cum 7 36.06x
Oswestry Town 7 56.77x
St Lawrence 7 193.91x
St Marylebone London 7 2.94x
Walton On Hill 7 24.43x
Chesterton 6 68.89x
Exning 6 218.98x
Horton In Bradford 6 8.70x
Lutton 6 508.47x
Sheffield 6 4.27x
St Pancras London 6 1.67x
Sutton 6 1052.63x
West Ham 6 3.09x
Battersea 5 3.05x
Bury St Edmunds St James 5 34.48x
Chilham 5 230.41x
Chiswick 5 20.53x
Everton 5 2.97x
Riddlesworth 5 3333.33x
St Albans St Peter 5 48.22x
Wilton 5 179.21x
Barony 4 1.10x
Blackburn 4 2.84x
Chelsea London 4 2.98x
Coventry Holy Trinity 4 11.92x
Manchester 4 1.68x
Margate St John Baptist 4 14.36x
Mile End Old Town London 4 4.22x
Milverton 4 121.21x
Rugeley 4 37.04x
Salford 4 2.57x
Tottington Lower End 4 15.91x
Caston 3 361.45x
Chester St Mary On Hill 3 35.55x
Liverpool 3 0.93x
Northampton All Sts 3 21.08x
Paddington London 3 1.83x
Poplar London 3 3.57x
Rockland St Peter 3 769.23x
Runcorn 3 13.22x
Sunbury 3 56.07x
Aberavon 2 28.01x
Bishopwearmouth 2 1.76x
Bootle Cum Linacre 2 4.76x
Brightside Bierlow 2 2.31x
Bristol St James In 2 15.55x
Croydon 2 1.66x
Darfield 2 49.75x
Elswick 2 3.78x
Fareham 2 18.21x
Grappenhall 2 166.67x
Hackney London 2 0.80x
Hertford St John 2 43.67x
Hulme 2 1.81x
Layton With Warbreck 2 10.30x
Newmarket St Mary 2 47.96x
North Shields 2 15.11x
Nottingham St Mary 2 1.29x
Radley 2 238.10x
Ramsgate 2 8.05x
Rockland St Andrews 2 869.57x
Romford 2 14.38x
Tanfield 2 12.68x
Wallasey 2 59.70x
Weeting With Broomhill 2 392.16x
West Derby 2 1.29x
Melton Mowbray 1 11.25x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 30
William 22
Thomas 17
James 16
George 12
Charles 10
Arthur 7
Edward 7
Henry 6
Alfred 5
David 4
Joseph 4
Michael 4
Richard 4
Robert 4
Stephen 4
Ernest 3
Frederick 3
Martin 3
Patrick 3
Walter 3
Albert 2
Edmund 2
Ezekiel 2
Ferrand 2
Samuel 2
Archie 1
Benjamin 1
Charley 1
Charlie 1
Chas.Wm.R. 1
Dennis 1
Ed. 1
Elijah 1
Eyekiel 1
Ezekial 1
Ezekieh 1
Felix 1
Frank 1
Fredk.W. 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Jno. 1
Mark 1
Micheal 1
P. 1
Pat 1
Percy 1
Reuben 1
Wm 1

FAQ

Corley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Corley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 450 people were recorded with the Corley surname. That placed it at #7,321 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Corley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 845 in 2016. That gives Corley a modern rank of #6,616.

What does the Corley surname mean?

Derived from the Irish surname "Mac Thoirdealbhaigh," meaning "son of Toirdhealbhach," which translates to "instigator" or "troublemaker."

What does the Corley map show?

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