NameCensus.

UK surname

Cubley

An English habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "clearing of a man named Cuve".

In the 1881 census there were 122 people recorded with the Cubley surname, ranking it #17,602 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 124, ranked #26,975, down from #17,602 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Alkmund, Newark-on-Trent, East Stoke (East Stoke), Park Leys, Rolleston (Fiskerton), Morton and St Werburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Breckland, Wirral and Kirklees.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cubley is 154 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 1.6%.

1881 census count

122

Ranked #17,602

Modern count

124

2016, ranked #26,975

Peak year

1911

154 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cubley had 122 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,602 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 124 in 2016, ranked #26,975.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 154 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Cubley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cubley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cubley 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 100 #17,164
1861 historical 87 #22,681
1881 historical 122 #17,602
1891 historical 110 #22,557
1901 historical 134 #19,288
1911 historical 154 #17,553
1997 modern 132 #22,821
1998 modern 154 #21,316
1999 modern 149 #21,924
2000 modern 151 #21,684
2001 modern 147 #21,756
2002 modern 134 #23,492
2003 modern 144 #22,270
2004 modern 142 #22,573
2005 modern 149 #21,866
2006 modern 150 #21,915
2007 modern 146 #22,596
2008 modern 147 #22,720
2009 modern 147 #23,248
2010 modern 142 #24,352
2011 modern 145 #23,837
2012 modern 137 #24,731
2013 modern 138 #25,020
2014 modern 131 #26,089
2015 modern 127 #26,494
2016 modern 124 #26,975

Geography

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Where Cubleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Alkmund, Newark-on-Trent, East Stoke (East Stoke), Park Leys, Rolleston (Fiskerton), Morton, St Werburgh, Manchester and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Breckland, Wirral, Kirklees and Halton. 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 St Alkmund Derbyshire
2 Newark-on-Trent, East Stoke (East Stoke), Park Leys, Rolleston (Fiskerton), Morton Nottinghamshire
3 St Werburgh Derbyshire
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Breckland 011 Breckland
2 Breckland 014 Breckland
3 Wirral 040 Wirral
4 Kirklees 034 Kirklees
5 Halton 010 Halton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cubley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cubley

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Cubley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Cubley household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Cubley 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

Cubley is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Cubley falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Cubley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Cubley

The surname Cubley originates from the Derbyshire region of England, with records dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "cu" meaning cow and "ley" meaning a meadow or clearing, indicating that the name likely referred to a meadow where cattle grazed.

One of the earliest documented instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Derbyshire from 1176, where a person named Adam de Cubeley is mentioned. This spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time.

In the 13th century, the Cubley surname appeared in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire, suggesting that the family had spread to neighboring counties. During this period, the name was also spelled as Cubeley and Cubbeley.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain direct references to the Cubley surname. However, it does mention the village of Cubley in Derbyshire, providing insight into the origins of the name.

Over the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the Cubley surname. In the 16th century, John Cubley (1545-1612) was a prominent merchant and landowner in Derbyshire. His grandson, Thomas Cubley (1587-1654), served as the High Sheriff of Derbyshire during the English Civil War.

In the 18th century, Samuel Cubley (1722-1799) was a respected clergyman and author, known for his works on theology and natural philosophy. His contemporary, William Cubley (1735-1811), was a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist in the city of Bristol.

During the 19th century, the Cubley name gained literary recognition with the works of Emily Cubley (1845-1902), a renowned poet and novelist. Her contemporaries included the artist and illustrator, Frederick Cubley (1851-1918), whose works adorned numerous publications of the time.

These examples illustrate the rich history and diversity of the Cubley surname, which has its roots firmly planted in the English countryside but has since spread across various professions and regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cubley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cubley 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 27 Cubleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.93x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 27 1.93x
Staffordshire 22 5.52x
Nottinghamshire 18 11.31x
Lincolnshire 16 8.48x
Derbyshire 10 5.41x
Yorkshire 10 0.86x
Surrey 9 1.57x
Warwickshire 3 1.01x
Wiltshire 2 1.92x
Worcestershire 2 1.30x
Middlesex 1 0.08x
Sussex 1 0.50x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Salford in Lancashire leads with 16 Cubleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 38.84x.

Place Total Index
Salford 16 38.84x
Newark Upon Trent 13 227.27x
Stoke Upon Trent 13 30.77x
Gedney 12 1558.44x
Lambeth 9 8.75x
Derby St Alkmund 7 126.35x
Walsall Borough 6 194.17x
Brightside Bierlow 5 21.80x
Liverpool 4 4.70x
Roxholme 4 8000.00x
Aston 3 3.66x
Burton Upon Trent 3 32.19x
Clarborough 3 252.10x
Ecclesall Bierlow 3 12.61x
Box 2 224.72x
Derby St Peter 2 33.96x
Everton 2 4.48x
Kings Norton 2 14.47x
Levenshulme 2 138.89x
Ashton Under Lyne 1 3.27x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 4.49x
Elksley 1 769.23x
Hastings St Mary In The 1 23.53x
Holy Trinity 1 3.55x
Mile End Old Town London 1 3.98x
Sculcoates 1 5.39x
Shipley 1 344.83x
Toxteth Park 1 2.11x
West Retford 1 303.03x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 10
Henry 8
John 4
Samuel 4
George 3
Harold 3
Harry 3
Francis 2
Frederick 2
Fredk 2
Fredrick 2
Joseph 2
Percy 2
Robt. 2
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Basil 1
Charles 1
Charlie 1
Edwin 1
Fred. 1
James 1
Lawrence 1
Michal 1
Robert 1
Sydney 1
Tamberlain 1
Thomas 1
Thos. 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Cubley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cubley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 122 people were recorded with the Cubley surname. That placed it at #17,602 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cubley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 124 in 2016. That gives Cubley a modern rank of #26,975.

What does the Cubley surname mean?

An English habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "clearing of a man named Cuve".

What does the Cubley map show?

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