NameCensus.

UK surname

Darley

A surname derived from an English place name meaning "meadow of deer".

In the 1881 census there were 1,276 people recorded with the Darley surname, ranking it #3,200 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,432, ranked #4,276, down from #3,200 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Hatfield, Fishlake, Thorne, Crowle (Eastoft) and Pinchbeck, Cowbit. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Riding of Yorkshire, Ryedale and Leeds.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Darley is 1,815 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 12.2%.

1881 census count

1,276

Ranked #3,200

Modern count

1,432

2016, ranked #4,276

Peak year

1911

1,815 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Darley had 1,276 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,200 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,432 in 2016, ranked #4,276.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,815 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Darley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Darley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Darley 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 819 #3,288
1861 historical 1,228 #2,322
1881 historical 1,276 #3,200
1891 historical 1,649 #2,721
1901 historical 1,434 #3,542
1911 historical 1,815 #2,710
1997 modern 1,426 #4,077
1998 modern 1,478 #4,107
1999 modern 1,470 #4,152
2000 modern 1,484 #4,097
2001 modern 1,460 #4,078
2002 modern 1,489 #4,096
2003 modern 1,441 #4,124
2004 modern 1,444 #4,125
2005 modern 1,406 #4,175
2006 modern 1,392 #4,215
2007 modern 1,404 #4,222
2008 modern 1,394 #4,273
2009 modern 1,454 #4,218
2010 modern 1,444 #4,304
2011 modern 1,430 #4,297
2012 modern 1,437 #4,219
2013 modern 1,435 #4,292
2014 modern 1,446 #4,289
2015 modern 1,426 #4,292
2016 modern 1,432 #4,276

Geography

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Where Darleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Hatfield, Fishlake, Thorne, Crowle (Eastoft), Pinchbeck, Cowbit and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Riding of Yorkshire, Ryedale, Leeds and Selby. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Hatfield, Fishlake, Thorne, Crowle (Eastoft) Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Pinchbeck, Cowbit Lincolnshire
4 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Riding of Yorkshire 041 East Riding of Yorkshire
2 Ryedale 004 Ryedale
3 East Riding of Yorkshire 015 East Riding of Yorkshire
4 Leeds 030 Leeds
5 Selby 006 Selby

Forenames

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First names often paired with Darley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Darley

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Darley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Darley 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Darley 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

Darley is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Darley falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Darley

The surname Darley is of English origin and can be traced back to the 11th century. It is believed to be a locational name derived from the village of Darley, located in the county of Derbyshire. The name is thought to come from the Old English words "deor" meaning deer and "leah" meaning a clearing or meadow, essentially translating to "deer meadow."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Darley can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is spelled as "Dereleie" and refers to the village in Derbyshire. This village is also mentioned in later records from the 13th and 14th centuries, with variations in spelling such as "Derley" and "Darleye."

In the 14th century, a notable figure with the surname Darley was John Darley, who was born around 1320 in Derbyshire. He was a prominent landowner and is mentioned in several historical records from that period.

Another early example of the name is Richard Darley, born in 1445 in Yorkshire. He was a prominent merchant and served as a member of the Guild of Corpus Christi in York.

During the 16th century, a notable figure was Thomas Darley, who was born in 1562 in Derbyshire. He was a clergyman and served as the Rector of Wirksworth in Derbyshire from 1592 until his death in 1618.

In the 17th century, John Darley, born in 1635 in Derbyshire, was a notable figure. He was a successful businessman and served as a magistrate in the county.

Another noteworthy individual with the surname Darley was Henry Darley, born in 1720 in Yorkshire. He was a renowned artist and engraver, known for his illustrations of works by Shakespeare and other literary figures.

While these are just a few examples, the surname Darley has a long and rich history, with its roots firmly planted in the English countryside of Derbyshire and Yorkshire.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Darley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Darley 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. Yorkshire leads with 562 Darleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.56x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 562 4.56x
Lincolnshire 130 6.53x
Middlesex 76 0.61x
Warwickshire 74 2.36x
Lancashire 64 0.43x
Kent 43 1.01x
Staffordshire 41 0.98x
Hampshire 34 1.33x
Durham 32 0.86x
Norfolk 29 1.52x
Northumberland 22 1.19x
Essex 17 0.69x
Cambridgeshire 16 2.03x
Cheshire 13 0.47x
Buckinghamshire 12 1.59x
Devon 12 0.46x
Nottinghamshire 11 0.66x
Surrey 11 0.18x
Cornwall 9 0.64x
Shropshire 9 0.84x
Sussex 9 0.43x
Derbyshire 8 0.41x
Bedfordshire 7 1.09x
Wiltshire 7 0.64x
Dorset 4 0.49x
Hertfordshire 4 0.47x
Northamptonshire 4 0.34x
Somerset 3 0.15x
Suffolk 3 0.20x
Berkshire 2 0.21x
Cumberland 2 0.19x
Glamorgan 2 0.09x
Gloucestershire 2 0.08x
Isle of Man 1 0.43x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.25x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sheffield in Yorkshire leads with 48 Darleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.22x.

Place Total Index
Sheffield 48 12.22x
Birmingham 41 3.92x
Ecclesall Bierlow 36 14.35x
Thorne 31 202.61x
Pinchbeck 29 227.27x
Norwich St Clement 21 94.64x
Kensington London 16 2.31x
Kippax 16 147.47x
Leeds 16 2.30x
Boston 15 24.84x
Doncaster 15 16.65x
Farlington 15 2083.33x
Greenwich 15 7.57x
West Ham 15 2.77x
Edgbaston 14 14.38x
Rillington 14 374.33x
Normanton 13 35.08x
Southampton St Mary 13 8.10x
Gosberton 12 135.75x
Sculcoates 12 6.14x
Haswell 11 41.45x
Holy Trinity 11 3.71x
Aston 10 1.16x
Aylesbury 10 29.99x
Great Grimsby 10 7.92x
Hatfield In Thorne 10 130.04x
Scawby 10 151.98x
Fishtoft 9 230.18x
March 9 34.09x
Mirfield 9 13.29x
Thornville 9 11250.00x
Brighton 8 1.89x
Hackney London 8 1.15x
Hemingbrough 8 327.87x
Holbeck 8 9.79x
Minster In Sheppey 8 11.37x
Nether Hallam 8 4.79x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 8 7.23x
Ashton Under Lyne 7 2.17x
Blackburn 7 1.78x
Bramley In Bramley 7 14.82x
Burton Upon Trent 7 7.12x
Filey 7 70.21x
Horton In Ribblesdale 7 309.73x
Islington London 7 0.58x
Lambeth 7 0.65x
Newington 7 20.61x
Stranton 7 5.62x
Wath On Dearne 7 28.44x
Wednesfield 7 11.32x
Westminster St John 7 4.62x
Wintringham 7 507.25x
Wolverhampton 7 2.17x
Aldborough In Great 6 275.23x
Barmbrough 6 132.74x
Crigglestone 6 50.51x
Dunstable 6 30.30x
Gate Fulford 6 20.83x
Greasley 6 15.85x
Lewisham 6 2.65x
Lund 6 306.12x
Marske In Guisbrough 6 27.40x
Mile End Old Town London 6 2.26x
Sheriff Hutton W 6 171.43x
Snaith Cowick 6 81.30x
Tinsley 6 138.89x
Wentworth 6 78.53x
West Haddlesey 6 952.38x
Willerby In Sculcoates 6 428.57x
York St Mary 6 11.74x
Alton 5 26.00x
Bradford 5 1.67x
Chelsea London 5 1.33x
Failsworth 5 14.80x
Fridaythorpe 5 367.65x
Plymouth St Andrew 5 2.51x
Sutterton 5 126.26x
Teddington London 5 17.73x
Wednesbury 5 4.76x
York St Giles In 5 42.99x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 77
John 62
George 53
Charles 36
Thomas 34
Henry 29
Joseph 26
James 24
Arthur 16
Alfred 14
Albert 13
Edward 13
Richard 11
Robert 11
Frederick 10
Harry 9
Walter 9
Samuel 8
Tom 8
Frank 7
David 4
Edwin 4
Ernest 4
Francis 4
Benjamin 3
Clement 3
Fred 3
Herbert 3
Jason 3
Jonathan 3
Wm. 3
Bernard 2
Daniel 2
Ezra 2
Fredk. 2
Fredrick 2
G. 2
Geo. 2
Isaac 2
Josh. 2
Joshua 2
Loftus 2
Martin 2
Mathew 2
Matthew 2
Michael 2
Smith 2
Stephen 2
Thos. 2
W. 2

FAQ

Darley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Darley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,276 people were recorded with the Darley surname. That placed it at #3,200 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Darley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,432 in 2016. That gives Darley a modern rank of #4,276.

What does the Darley surname mean?

A surname derived from an English place name meaning "meadow of deer".

What does the Darley map show?

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