NameCensus.

UK surname

Deeley

An English toponymic surname derived from a place name containing the Old English elements "dīc" (ditch) and "lēah" (meadow, clearing).

In the 1881 census there were 1,021 people recorded with the Deeley surname, ranking it #3,839 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,898, ranked #3,349, up from #3,839 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Harborne, Kingswinford and Oldswinford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cherwell, IZ07 and South Northamptonshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Deeley is 2,017 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 85.9%.

1881 census count

1,021

Ranked #3,839

Modern count

1,898

2016, ranked #3,349

Peak year

2000

2,017 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Deeley had 1,021 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,839 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,898 in 2016, ranked #3,349.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,578 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Deeley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Deeley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Deeley 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 581 #4,390
1861 historical 550 #4,785
1881 historical 1,021 #3,839
1891 historical 1,064 #3,944
1901 historical 1,322 #3,786
1911 historical 1,578 #3,076
1997 modern 1,908 #3,162
1998 modern 1,971 #3,191
1999 modern 2,001 #3,177
2000 modern 2,017 #3,146
2001 modern 1,968 #3,146
2002 modern 1,994 #3,180
2003 modern 1,956 #3,178
2004 modern 1,925 #3,209
2005 modern 1,877 #3,245
2006 modern 1,852 #3,297
2007 modern 1,859 #3,312
2008 modern 1,862 #3,325
2009 modern 1,917 #3,319
2010 modern 1,951 #3,341
2011 modern 1,954 #3,302
2012 modern 1,891 #3,337
2013 modern 1,918 #3,351
2014 modern 1,914 #3,376
2015 modern 1,906 #3,354
2016 modern 1,898 #3,349

Geography

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Where Deeleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Harborne, Kingswinford, Oldswinford, Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire) and Birmingham Town: Birmingham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cherwell, IZ07, South Northamptonshire, Sandwell and Dudley. 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 Harborne Worcestershire
2 Kingswinford Worcestershire
3 Oldswinford Worcestershire
4 Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire) Staffordshire
5 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cherwell 011 Cherwell
2 IZ07 West Dunbartonshire
3 South Northamptonshire 011 South Northamptonshire
4 Sandwell 029 Sandwell
5 Dudley 033 Dudley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Deeley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Deeley

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Deeley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Deeley household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Deeley 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

Deeley is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Deeley 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 Deeley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Deeley

The surname Deeley originated in England, and its earliest documented instances date back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word 'dæl,' meaning 'a valley' or 'a dale,' suggesting that the name may have been initially given to someone who resided in a valley or was associated with a particular valley.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Deeley surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, a historical record compiled in the years 1273-1279. This document lists a person named William de la Dele, whose name is likely an earlier spelling variation of Deeley.

During the 14th century, the surname appeared in various other historical records, such as the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire, where a John Deeley was mentioned in 1346. This suggests that the name had spread to different regions of England by that time.

In the 16th century, the Deeley surname was found in the Subsidy Rolls of Gloucestershire, which listed taxpayers in the county. One notable entry was for a Thomas Deeley in 1543. This record provides evidence of the surname's continued presence in the region.

Some notable individuals with the surname Deeley throughout history include:

1. Walter Deeley (c. 1500 - 1566), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Gloucester in the 16th century.

2. John Deeley (1628 - 1689), an English clergyman and writer who authored several religious works.

3. Thomas Deeley (1700 - 1763), a British military officer who served in the Royal Navy and participated in the Seven Years' War.

4. William Deeley (1783 - 1859), an English architect known for designing several notable buildings in London, including the Church of St. Paul in Deptford.

5. Sir Thomas Deeley (1817 - 1892), a British industrialist and philanthropist who founded the Deeley Tin Plate Company and contributed significantly to the development of the tin plate industry in Wales.

The surname Deeley has also been linked to various place names in England, such as Deeleyhill in Shropshire and Deeley Brook in Staffordshire. These place names may have influenced the spelling variations of the surname or may have been named after individuals bearing the Deeley name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Deeley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Deeley 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. Warwickshire leads with 259 Deeleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.32x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 259 10.32x
Staffordshire 208 6.19x
Worcestershire 177 13.62x
Middlesex 57 0.57x
Oxfordshire 52 8.46x
Surrey 47 0.97x
Buckinghamshire 41 6.82x
Yorkshire 30 0.30x
Berkshire 27 3.62x
Bedfordshire 20 3.88x
Cheshire 20 0.91x
Derbyshire 19 1.22x
Lancashire 19 0.16x
Nottinghamshire 10 0.75x
Gloucestershire 8 0.41x
Caernarfonshire 5 1.24x
Hertfordshire 5 0.73x
Sussex 5 0.30x
Devon 2 0.10x
Essex 2 0.10x
Herefordshire 2 0.49x
Shropshire 2 0.23x
Denbighshire 1 0.27x
Lanarkshire 1 0.03x
Westmorland 1 0.46x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 136 Deeleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.26x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 136 16.26x
Aston 72 10.42x
Harborne 44 40.88x
Kingswinford 41 33.62x
Dudley 32 20.26x
Lye 25 115.63x
Edgbaston 22 28.28x
Oldbury 21 32.85x
Ridgacre 21 823.53x
Rowley Regis 20 21.37x
Leighton Buzzard 19 85.74x
Ivinghoe 18 382.98x
Wednesbury 18 21.45x
Fenny Compton 16 800.00x
West Bromwich 16 8.32x
Ambrosden 15 614.75x
Wolverhampton 12 4.65x
Camberwell 11 1.73x
Gt Haseley 11 472.10x
Islington London 11 1.14x
Reading St Mary 11 18.39x
Beeston 10 64.89x
Deddington 10 149.93x
Handsworth 10 12.08x
Kings Norton 10 8.58x
Oxford St Aldate 10 154.56x
Walsall Borough 10 38.36x
Walsall Foreign 10 5.76x
Worsbrough 10 34.61x
Clent 9 263.93x
Pelsall 9 90.09x
Gradley 8 127.39x
Limehouse London 8 7.32x
Twyford 8 418.85x
Wolverley 8 70.11x
Darlaston 7 15.08x
Darley 7 111.29x
Lambeth 7 0.81x
White Waltham 7 250.00x
Bermondsey 6 2.03x
Chester St Mary On Hill 6 31.85x
Cradley 6 51.06x
Derby St Werburgh 6 6.67x
Egham 6 20.16x
Hillesden 6 800.00x
Isleworth 6 13.56x
Nether Hallam 6 4.50x
New Malton 6 50.89x
Stourbridge 6 17.95x
Warrington 6 4.29x
Wollescote 6 57.31x
Wotton St Mary 6 59.29x
Birkenhead 5 2.86x
Clapham 5 4.02x
Hatton 5 150.60x
Illey 5 1851.85x
Llanbeblig 5 12.25x
Wednesfield 5 10.12x
Alfreton 4 8.45x
Berkhampstead 4 25.94x
Bromley London 4 1.83x
Clerkenwell London 4 1.70x
Godley 4 84.39x
Hyde 4 6.17x
Linslade 4 67.91x
Newington 4 1.09x
Reading St Giles 4 5.46x
Salford 4 1.15x
Upperswinford 4 36.40x
Yardley 4 12.03x
Barnsley 3 2.95x
Cannock 3 5.12x
Fillongley 3 83.80x
Fulham London 3 2.08x
Hove 3 4.08x
Hulme 3 1.22x
Lambourn 3 40.54x
Oxford St Thomas 3 10.46x
Rock 3 57.80x
St Andrew Holborn London 3 6.96x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 64
John 59
Thomas 37
George 29
Joseph 27
James 25
Samuel 23
Arthur 15
Alfred 14
Henry 14
Charles 11
Edward 11
Frank 11
Richard 11
Harry 10
Edwin 9
Frederick 9
Benjamin 8
David 7
Albert 6
Herbert 6
Walter 6
Francis 5
Enoch 4
Fredrick 3
Robert 3
Zachariah 3
Abel 2
Bertie 2
Chas. 2
Eli 2
Felix 2
Fredk. 2
Horace 2
Jabez 2
Jesse 2
Percy 2
Andrew 1
Chas.Henry 1
Dan 1
Egbert 1
Elgar 1
Ernest 1
Fred 1
Harold 1
Hezekiah 1
Isaac 1
Japtha 1
Jas. 1
Job 1

FAQ

Deeley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Deeley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,021 people were recorded with the Deeley surname. That placed it at #3,839 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Deeley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,898 in 2016. That gives Deeley a modern rank of #3,349.

What does the Deeley surname mean?

An English toponymic surname derived from a place name containing the Old English elements "dīc" (ditch) and "lēah" (meadow, clearing).

What does the Deeley map show?

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