NameCensus.

UK surname

Dearnley

A locational surname derived from a place name in Yorkshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 536 people recorded with the Dearnley surname, ranking it #6,420 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 468, ranked #10,507, down from #6,420 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Glossop and Penistone (Denby), Kirkburton (Cumberworth Half). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kirklees, Wigan and Oldham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dearnley is 725 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 12.7%.

1881 census count

536

Ranked #6,420

Modern count

468

2016, ranked #10,507

Peak year

1911

725 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dearnley had 536 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,420 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 468 in 2016, ranked #10,507.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 725 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Dearnley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dearnley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dearnley 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 274 #8,176
1861 historical 337 #7,564
1881 historical 536 #6,420
1891 historical 670 #5,814
1901 historical 713 #6,189
1911 historical 725 #5,900
1997 modern 492 #9,415
1998 modern 509 #9,462
1999 modern 505 #9,587
2000 modern 504 #9,575
2001 modern 491 #9,604
2002 modern 511 #9,484
2003 modern 489 #9,646
2004 modern 490 #9,639
2005 modern 476 #9,783
2006 modern 472 #9,892
2007 modern 479 #9,873
2008 modern 478 #9,977
2009 modern 484 #10,101
2010 modern 480 #10,353
2011 modern 481 #10,244
2012 modern 467 #10,384
2013 modern 493 #10,119
2014 modern 499 #10,090
2015 modern 477 #10,369
2016 modern 468 #10,507

Geography

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Where Dearnleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Glossop, Penistone (Denby), Kirkburton (Cumberworth Half) and Almondbury. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kirklees, Wigan and Oldham. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Glossop Derbyshire
3 Penistone (Denby), Kirkburton (Cumberworth Half) Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Almondbury Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Rochdale Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kirklees 057 Kirklees
2 Kirklees 059 Kirklees
3 Kirklees 058 Kirklees
4 Wigan 013 Wigan
5 Oldham 020 Oldham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dearnley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dearnley

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Dearnley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Dearnley household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Dearnley 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

Dearnley is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Dearnley falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Dearnley

The surname Dearnley is of English origin, deriving from a place name located in the West Riding of Yorkshire. The name is believed to have originated from the Old English words "deor," meaning deer, and "leah," meaning a meadow or clearing, suggesting it may have once referred to a deer-inhabited meadow.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it appears as "de Dernelay." This early spelling variation highlights the name's connection to the area it originated from.

During the 13th century, the name Dearnley was also found in various records and manuscripts from Yorkshire, indicating the family's presence in the region. However, it is not recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, suggesting the name emerged later.

Notable individuals with the surname Dearnley include John Dearnley (1655-1723), an English mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics. Another prominent figure was Thomas Dearnley (1788-1865), a British industrialist and textile manufacturer who played a crucial role in the development of the cotton industry in Lancashire.

In the 19th century, William Dearnley (1810-1892), a prominent English architect, designed several notable buildings in Yorkshire, including the Bradford Town Hall. Additionally, James Dearnley (1845-1923) was a renowned English cricketer who played for Yorkshire County Cricket Club.

Lastly, Sir Ralph Dearnley (1867-1945) was a British politician and businessman who served as a Member of Parliament for the Warrington constituency from 1918 to 1945.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dearnley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dearnley 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 394 Dearnleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.59x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 394 7.59x
Lancashire 91 1.46x
Cheshire 27 2.33x
Derbyshire 11 1.34x
Montgomeryshire 7 5.83x
Middlesex 4 0.08x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.42x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Almondbury in Yorkshire leads with 73 Dearnleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 290.84x.

Place Total Index
Almondbury 73 290.84x
Fulstone 29 763.16x
Saddleworth 27 67.43x
Batley 22 44.60x
Wooldale 20 227.27x
Huddersfield 18 23.80x
Castleton 16 25.77x
Spotland 16 23.15x
Austonley 13 442.18x
Dukinfield 13 24.33x
Darton 12 225.56x
Glossop Dale 11 28.64x
Netherthong 11 654.76x
Chadderton 10 32.91x
Denby 10 357.14x
Cumberworth 9 340.91x
South Crosland 9 164.53x
Cawthorne In Wortley 8 380.95x
Haworth 8 64.83x
Salford 8 4.38x
Skelmanthorpe 8 142.86x
York St Maurice 8 81.88x
Horsforth 7 61.51x
Kirkheaton 7 83.14x
Llanllwchaiarn 7 134.62x
Meltham 7 86.74x
Swinton In Rotherham 7 50.98x
Barugh 6 136.99x
Hollingworth 6 125.79x
Ince In Makerfield 6 20.75x
Leeds 6 2.05x
Worsbrough 6 39.45x
Worsley 6 15.66x
Ashton Under Lyne 5 3.68x
Golcar 5 36.44x
Layton With Warbreck 5 21.92x
Thorne 5 77.64x
Thurgoland 5 142.86x
Great Bolton 4 4.86x
Honley 4 44.00x
Lockwood 4 21.41x
Marsden In Almondbury 4 84.75x
Moss Side 4 12.23x
St George In East London 4 8.12x
Stansfield 4 20.94x
Stayley 4 30.26x
Upperthong 4 90.70x
Cartworth 3 69.93x
Halifax 3 3.94x
Heckmondwike 3 17.96x
Holme In Huddersfield 3 245.90x
Nottingham St Mary 3 1.64x
Wardleworth 3 8.45x
Barnsley 2 3.74x
Dalton In Huddersfield 2 17.20x
Dewsbury 2 3.76x
Droylsden 2 9.86x
Everton 2 1.01x
Failsworth 2 14.06x
Hoyland Swaine 2 149.25x
Werneth 2 55.25x
Bollington In 1 9.72x
Clifton In Halifax 1 32.26x
Crumpsall 1 6.83x
Fishlake 1 102.04x
Kirkdale 1 0.96x
Monk Bretton 1 19.01x
Notton 1 212.77x
Ossett Cum Gawthorpe 1 5.39x
Rastrick 1 6.93x
Ripon 1 8.31x
Stockport 1 1.68x
Wakefield 1 2.51x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 47
Sarah 23
Ann 18
Hannah 17
Elizabeth 14
Emma 13
Annie 12
Martha 11
Ada 10
Alice 10
Ellen 10
Harriet 7
Jane 6
Clara 5
Eliza 5
Susannah 5
Charlotte 4
Florence 4
Frances 4
Margaret 4
Anne 3
Louisa 3
Lucy 3
Edith 2
Grace 2
Laura 2
Lydia 2
Matilda 2
Betsy 1
Catherine 1
Charlote 1
Deenah 1
Elizabth. 1
Elizth.Alice 1
Emiley 1
Emily 1
Emmy 1
Esther 1
Harriett 1
Helena 1
Isabella 1
J.E. 1
Janet 1
Jessie 1
Livvina 1
M.A. 1
Maria 1
Marion 1
Marth 1
Tamer 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 29
William 17
George 16
James 12
Arthur 9
Fred 9
Harry 7
Joe 7
Thomas 7
Henry 6
Joseph 6
Alfred 5
David 5
Samuel 5
Charles 4
Tom 4
Edward 3
Eli 3
Frank 3
Herbert 3
Sam 3
Squire 3
Walter 3
Wm. 3
Albert 2
Allen 2
Andrew 2
Ben 2
Booth 2
Brook 2
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
Firth 2
Geo. 2
Hugh 2
Isaac 2
Jno. 2
Job 2
Jonas 2
Lewis 2
Matthew 2
Robert 2
Willie 2
Wright 2
Ervin 1
Ezra 1
F.E. 1
Jas. 1
Jas.Ed. 1
Jessy 1

FAQ

Dearnley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dearnley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 536 people were recorded with the Dearnley surname. That placed it at #6,420 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dearnley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 468 in 2016. That gives Dearnley a modern rank of #10,507.

What does the Dearnley surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name in Yorkshire, England.

What does the Dearnley map show?

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