NameCensus.

UK surname

Daley

Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Dálaigh, meaning "descendant of Dálach," a personal name meaning "assembly."

In the 1881 census there were 3,526 people recorded with the Daley surname, ranking it #1,284 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 7,096, ranked #942, up from #1,284 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Liverpool, Sefton and Cannock Chase.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Daley is 7,298 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 101.2%.

1881 census count

3,526

Ranked #1,284

Modern count

7,096

2016, ranked #942

Peak year

2010

7,298 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Daley had 3,526 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,284 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 7,096 in 2016, ranked #942.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,748 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Daley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Daley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Daley 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 1,229 #2,321
1861 historical 1,689 #1,691
1881 historical 3,526 #1,284
1891 historical 3,383 #1,408
1901 historical 3,648 #1,539
1911 historical 3,748 #1,385
1997 modern 6,368 #1,031
1998 modern 6,550 #1,043
1999 modern 6,650 #1,033
2000 modern 6,630 #1,030
2001 modern 6,487 #1,025
2002 modern 6,699 #1,007
2003 modern 6,594 #1,002
2004 modern 6,646 #996
2005 modern 6,653 #990
2006 modern 6,735 #967
2007 modern 6,845 #963
2008 modern 6,883 #965
2009 modern 7,093 #955
2010 modern 7,298 #943
2011 modern 7,133 #954
2012 modern 6,939 #959
2013 modern 7,147 #950
2014 modern 7,181 #949
2015 modern 7,120 #943
2016 modern 7,096 #942

Geography

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Where Daleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes, St Pancras and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Liverpool, Sefton and Cannock Chase. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Liverpool 014 Liverpool
2 Liverpool 024 Liverpool
3 Sefton 037 Sefton
4 Cannock Chase 002 Cannock Chase
5 Liverpool 012 Liverpool

Forenames

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First names often paired with Daley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Daley

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Daley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Daley 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Daley is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Daley 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

Daley 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 Daley 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Daley

The surname Daley is an anglicized version of the Irish Gaelic name Ó Dálaigh, which means "descendant of Dálach." The name originated in County Mayo, Ireland, in the 12th century. Dálach was a personal name derived from the Irish word "dál," meaning "assembly" or "meeting."

The Daley surname first appeared in ancient manuscripts and records from the 13th century, such as the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name was in 1263 when Tadhg O'Daly (anglicized as Teague O'Daly) was mentioned as a prominent chieftain in County Mayo.

During the Middle Ages, the Daleys were part of the Gaelic nobility in Ireland and held significant influence in the west of the country. The name was particularly prominent in the baronies of Clanmorris and Gallen in County Mayo.

In the 16th century, the Daley surname appeared in the Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns, a collection of official documents from the English monarchy. This record mentions several members of the Daley family, including John Daley, who was granted land in County Mayo in 1584.

One of the most notable figures in Daley history was James Daley (1639-1695), an Irish Catholic bishop who served as the Bishop of Meath from 1685 to 1695. He played a significant role in preserving the Catholic faith in Ireland during the Penal Laws.

Another prominent individual with the Daley surname was Sir Dominick Daley (1768-1843), an Irish politician and lawyer who served as the Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer from 1834 to 1843.

In the 19th century, the Daley family spread throughout Ireland and beyond, with many members emigrating to countries like the United States and Canada. One notable Daley was Michael Daley (1827-1903), an Irish-American political leader who served as the Mayor of Long Branch, New Jersey, from 1872 to 1873.

During the 20th century, the Daley name gained prominence in American politics with Richard J. Daley (1902-1976), who served as the Mayor of Chicago from 1955 to 1976, and his son, Richard M. Daley (1942-), who also served as the Mayor of Chicago from 1989 to 2011.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Daley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Daley 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 1,053 Daleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.58x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 1,053 2.58x
Middlesex 569 1.66x
Yorkshire 273 0.80x
Durham 210 2.05x
Surrey 184 1.10x
Glamorgan 148 2.47x
Cheshire 97 1.28x
Kent 90 0.77x
Monmouthshire 74 2.98x
Staffordshire 67 0.58x
Essex 66 0.97x
Lanarkshire 63 0.57x
Derbyshire 51 0.95x
Northumberland 48 0.94x
Devon 46 0.64x
Cumberland 45 1.52x
Nottinghamshire 44 0.95x
Warwickshire 39 0.45x
Gloucestershire 38 0.56x
Lincolnshire 35 0.64x
Leicestershire 30 0.79x
Buckinghamshire 28 1.35x
Hampshire 28 0.40x
Shropshire 25 0.84x
Somerset 23 0.42x
Worcestershire 16 0.36x
Denbighshire 13 1.00x
Pembrokeshire 12 1.10x
Berkshire 11 0.43x
Cornwall 11 0.28x
Flintshire 11 1.19x
Sussex 9 0.16x
Northamptonshire 8 0.25x
Royal Navy 6 1.46x
Angus 5 0.16x
Cambridgeshire 5 0.23x
Herefordshire 5 0.35x
Inverness-shire 5 0.49x
Ayrshire 4 0.16x
Perthshire 4 0.26x
Stirlingshire 4 0.32x
Hertfordshire 3 0.13x
Renfrewshire 3 0.11x
Buteshire 2 0.96x
Dorset 2 0.09x
Midlothian 2 0.04x
Norfolk 2 0.04x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.03x
Bedfordshire 1 0.06x
Channel Islands 1 0.10x
Isle of Man 1 0.16x
Roxburghshire 1 0.16x
Suffolk 1 0.02x
Wiltshire 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. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 177 Daleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.14x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 177 7.14x
Manchester 106 5.78x
Kensington London 62 3.24x
Toxteth Park 59 4.27x
St Pancras London 46 1.66x
Cardiff St Mary 43 13.04x
St Marylebone London 42 2.29x
St Woollos 42 15.14x
Ashton Under Lyne 41 4.60x
West Ham 39 2.60x
Salford 38 3.17x
Newchurch 35 10.49x
Nottingham St Mary 35 2.92x
Chelsea London 34 3.28x
Pendleton In Salford 32 6.58x
Ardwick 31 8.43x
Chorlton On Medlock 31 4.78x
Lambeth 30 1.00x
Poplar London 30 4.62x
Islington London 29 0.87x
Keighley 29 7.99x
Merthyr Tydfil 29 5.04x
St George In East London 29 8.97x
Barton Upon Irwell 28 9.12x
Oldham 27 2.05x
Birmingham 26 0.90x
Sheffield 25 2.31x
Widnes 23 7.82x
Burnley 22 6.40x
Warrington 22 4.55x
Blackburn 21 1.93x
Bromley London 21 2.78x
Leeds 21 1.09x
St Giles In Fields London 21 12.45x
Westminster St John 21 5.02x
Fulham London 20 4.01x
Glasgow 20 1.01x
Chorley 19 8.30x
Derby St Michael 19 168.14x
Everton 19 1.46x
Garston 19 15.78x
Gorton 19 4.95x
Kirkdale 19 2.77x
Bermondsey 18 1.76x
Birkenhead 18 2.98x
Plymouth St Andrew 18 3.27x
Bishopwearmouth 17 1.94x
Bootle Cum Linacre 17 5.25x
Deptford St Paul 17 1.88x
Govan 17 0.62x
Hulme 17 2.00x
Preston 16 1.47x
Southwark St George Martyr 16 2.31x
Swansea Town 16 3.26x
Wellington 16 9.59x
Gateshead 15 1.96x
Latchford 15 29.76x
Limehouse London 15 3.97x
Woodbury 15 70.69x
Barony 14 0.50x
Battersea 14 1.11x
Clerkenwell London 14 1.73x
East Ham 14 11.12x
Middlesbrough 14 3.16x
Rotherhithe 14 3.30x
Brightside Bierlow 13 1.95x
Chiswick 13 6.92x
Darlington 13 3.29x
Gelligaer 13 9.51x
Gillingham 13 5.38x
Glossop Dale 13 5.16x
Shoreditch London 13 0.87x
Batley 12 3.71x
Bury 12 2.58x
Horton In Bradford 12 2.26x
Kyo 12 24.93x
Leicester St Margaret 12 1.29x
Newport 12 10.12x
Westgate 12 3.79x
Woking 12 11.89x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 362
Margaret 127
Ellen 126
Catherine 113
Elizabeth 107
Ann 68
Sarah 63
Bridget 58
Jane 50
Eliza 47
Annie 33
Hannah 26
Emma 25
Alice 24
Julia 23
Kate 19
Anne 18
Emily 17
Maria 17
Rose 15
Johanna 12
Caroline 11
Charlotte 11
Martha 10
Agnes 9
Clara 9
Elizth. 9
Fanny 9
Harriet 9
Louisa 9
Ada 8
Frances 8
Honora 8
Margt. 8
Matilda 8
Sophia 8
Isabella 7
Anna 6
Cathrine 6
Susan 6
Bridgett 5
Florence 5
Francis 5
Gertrude 5
Johannah 5
Susannah 5
Cath. 4
Edith 4
Helen 4
Maud 4

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 314
James 209
Thomas 141
William 115
Patrick 111
Michael 60
Charles 54
Daniel 54
Joseph 41
Edward 38
Henry 33
Peter 33
George 30
Dennis 24
Robert 18
Martin 17
David 16
Francis 16
Richard 16
Arthur 15
Alfred 12
Frederick 12
Hugh 12
Jeremiah 12
Albert 10
Cornelius 10
Timothy 10
Denis 9
Owen 9
Bernard 7
Eugene 7
Thos. 7
Walter 7
Jno. 6
Matthew 6
Andrew 5
Ernest 5
Anthony 4
Christopher 4
Frank 4
Fredk. 4
Harry 4
Micheal 4
Philip 4
Samuel 4
Stephen 4
Tom 4
Wm. 4
Benjamin 3
Danl. 3

FAQ

Daley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Daley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,526 people were recorded with the Daley surname. That placed it at #1,284 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Daley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 7,096 in 2016. That gives Daley a modern rank of #942.

What does the Daley surname mean?

Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Dálaigh, meaning "descendant of Dálach," a personal name meaning "assembly."

What does the Daley map show?

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