UK surname
English surname derived from a topographic name for someone living in a dale or valley.
In the 1881 census there were 55 people recorded with the Dayley surname, ranking it #25,862 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 13, ranked #37,278, down from #25,862 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Dudley, St Marylebone and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dayley is 161 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 76.4%.
1881 census count
55
Ranked #25,862
Modern count
13
2016, ranked #37,278
Peak year
1861
161 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Dayley surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Dayley surname density by area, 1861 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 | 79 | #19,712 |
| 1861 | historical | 161 | #14,392 |
| 1881 | historical | 55 | #25,862 |
| 1891 | historical | 59 | #29,325 |
| 1901 | historical | 37 | #30,009 |
| 1911 | historical | 47 | #28,110 |
| 1997 | modern | 9 | #37,214 |
| 1998 | modern | 5 | #37,861 |
| 1999 | modern | 4 | #38,100 |
| 2000 | modern | 6 | #37,624 |
| 2001 | modern | 5 | #37,652 |
| 2002 | modern | 8 | #37,206 |
| 2003 | modern | 6 | #37,586 |
| 2004 | modern | 4 | #38,013 |
| 2005 | modern | 3 | #38,312 |
| 2006 | modern | 6 | #37,788 |
| 2007 | modern | 6 | #37,837 |
| 2008 | modern | 7 | #37,735 |
| 2009 | modern | 4 | #38,287 |
| 2010 | modern | 4 | #38,371 |
| 2011 | modern | 5 | #38,168 |
| 2012 | modern | 8 | #37,740 |
| 2013 | modern | 8 | #37,767 |
| 2014 | modern | 11 | #37,462 |
| 2015 | modern | 12 | #37,371 |
| 2016 | modern | 13 | #37,278 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Dudley, St Marylebone, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars, Liverpool and Walsall. 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 | Dudley | Staffordshire |
| 2 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| 3 | Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars | Leicestershire |
| 4 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| 5 | Walsall | Staffordshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Dayley 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 Dayley, 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 Dayley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Dayley 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, Dayley 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 Dayley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Dayley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Dayley is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "dæg" meaning day and "leah" meaning a clearing or meadow. This suggests that the name was initially given to someone who lived near a clearing or open meadow.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Dayley can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Daiglei." This reference indicates that the name was already in use by the late 11th century in certain parts of England.
During the 13th century, the name Dayley appeared in various forms, including "Dayley," "Daylye," and "Deyly," in various county records and tax rolls across different regions of England, particularly in the counties of Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire.
One notable individual bearing the surname Dayley was Sir Thomas Dayley, a wealthy landowner and Member of Parliament for Oxfordshire in the late 16th century (born around 1550, died in 1612). He was known for his involvement in local politics and his efforts to improve the infrastructure of the region.
Another historically significant figure was Rev. John Dayley (1660-1734), an English clergyman and author who served as the rector of several parishes in Wiltshire. He wrote extensively on theological subjects and published several works during his lifetime.
In the 18th century, the name Dayley was associated with the village of Daylesford in Gloucestershire, which was likely derived from the same Old English words as the surname itself. This connection suggests that the name may have originated in or around this area.
William Dayley (1787-1865) was a prominent architect and surveyor from Oxfordshire, known for his work on various public buildings and churches in the region during the early 19th century.
Another noteworthy individual was Elizabeth Dayley (1825-1901), a philanthropist and social reformer from Wiltshire. She dedicated her life to improving the living conditions of the poor and advocating for educational opportunities for underprivileged children.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dayley 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. Middlesex leads with 14 Dayleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.61x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 14 | 2.61x |
| Lancashire | 11 | 1.73x |
| Buckinghamshire | 7 | 21.59x |
| Yorkshire | 5 | 0.94x |
| Cambridgeshire | 3 | 8.83x |
| Lanarkshire | 3 | 1.73x |
| Sussex | 2 | 2.21x |
| Worcestershire | 2 | 2.86x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.94x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.91x |
| Monmouthshire | 1 | 2.58x |
| Norfolk | 1 | 1.21x |
| Renfrewshire | 1 | 2.41x |
| Somerset | 1 | 1.16x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.55x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 0.74x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Marylebone London in Middlesex leads with 8 Dayleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.93x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| St Marylebone London | 8 | 27.93x |
| Buckingham | 7 | 1060.61x |
| Reddish | 4 | 454.55x |
| Broughton In Salford | 3 | 51.55x |
| Glasgow | 3 | 9.74x |
| Knapwell | 3 | 10000.00x |
| Sharlston | 3 | 857.14x |
| Kings Norton | 2 | 31.85x |
| Poplar London | 2 | 19.76x |
| Preston | 2 | 126.58x |
| Wuerdle Wardle | 2 | 103.63x |
| Alverstoke | 1 | 25.13x |
| Barking | 1 | 32.26x |
| Bradfield | 1 | 48.78x |
| Chorley | 1 | 28.01x |
| Edgbaston | 1 | 23.87x |
| Gissing | 1 | 1250.00x |
| Hackney London | 1 | 3.33x |
| Hammersmith London | 1 | 7.57x |
| Islington London | 1 | 1.92x |
| Litherland | 1 | 75.19x |
| Llanvihangel Llantarnam | 1 | 135.14x |
| Normanby In | 1 | 70.42x |
| St Giles In Fields London | 1 | 38.02x |
| Walsall Foreign | 1 | 10.70x |
| West Greenock | 1 | 13.40x |
| Wilton | 1 | 454.55x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Dayley 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 Dayley 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 Dayley households.
FAQ
In 1881, 55 people were recorded with the Dayley surname. That placed it at #25,862 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 13 in 2016. That gives Dayley a modern rank of #37,278.
English surname derived from a topographic name for someone living in a dale or valley.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Dayley 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.