NameCensus.

UK surname

Dilley

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "dell" or "small valley" combined with the suffix "-ley."

In the 1881 census there were 946 people recorded with the Dilley surname, ranking it #4,079 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,301, ranked #4,603, down from #4,079 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Hinckley (incl. Hydes Pastures) and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Central Bedfordshire and North Hertfordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dilley is 1,526 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 37.5%.

1881 census count

946

Ranked #4,079

Modern count

1,301

2016, ranked #4,603

Peak year

1999

1,526 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dilley had 946 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,079 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,301 in 2016, ranked #4,603.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,512 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Dilley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dilley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dilley 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 544 #4,643
1861 historical 585 #4,514
1881 historical 946 #4,079
1891 historical 1,026 #4,063
1901 historical 1,141 #4,258
1911 historical 1,512 #3,197
1997 modern 1,484 #3,943
1998 modern 1,508 #4,024
1999 modern 1,526 #4,018
2000 modern 1,497 #4,071
2001 modern 1,466 #4,068
2002 modern 1,497 #4,084
2003 modern 1,427 #4,155
2004 modern 1,402 #4,219
2005 modern 1,374 #4,256
2006 modern 1,332 #4,366
2007 modern 1,325 #4,409
2008 modern 1,336 #4,406
2009 modern 1,347 #4,469
2010 modern 1,377 #4,467
2011 modern 1,370 #4,430
2012 modern 1,315 #4,518
2013 modern 1,338 #4,533
2014 modern 1,329 #4,589
2015 modern 1,312 #4,592
2016 modern 1,301 #4,603

Geography

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Where Dilleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Hinckley (incl. Hydes Pastures), Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars, St Mary Islington and Meppershall. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Central Bedfordshire and North Hertfordshire. 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 Hinckley (incl. Hydes Pastures) Leicestershire
3 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire
4 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)
5 Meppershall Bedfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Central Bedfordshire 005 Central Bedfordshire
2 Central Bedfordshire 010 Central Bedfordshire
3 Central Bedfordshire 011 Central Bedfordshire
4 North Hertfordshire 014 North Hertfordshire
5 Central Bedfordshire 013 Central Bedfordshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dilley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dilley

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Dilley, 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 Dilley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Dilley 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Dilley is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Dilley 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

Dilley falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Dilley

The surname Dilley is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "dill" meaning a valley or hollow. It is thought to have originated as a topographic name, given to someone who lived in a small valley or dell.

Dilley is believed to have originated in the counties of Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, and Shropshire in the West Midlands region of England. The earliest recorded instance of the name is found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, which list a Richard de la Dulle residing in Worcestershire.

The name has undergone various spelling variations over the centuries, including Dilie, Dilly, Dille, Dillie, and Dilli. These variations can be found in various medieval records and documents such as parish registers, tax rolls, and court records.

One notable early bearer of the name was John Dilly, a merchant and alderman of the City of London in the late 16th century. He served as Master of the Worshipful Company of Grocers in 1594 and was involved in the city's governance during a turbulent period of English history.

Another individual of historical significance was Sir Samuel Dilley (1617-1688), an English lawyer and judge who served as Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer. He was renowned for his legal expertise and played a crucial role in shaping English common law during the tumultuous years following the English Civil War.

In the 18th century, James Dilley (1746-1822) was a prominent English architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Circus in Blackfriars and the Church of St. Paul in Covent Garden.

Moving into the 19th century, we find Mary Dilley (1825-1903), a British author and educator who wrote several books on the education of young children. Her works were widely influential in promoting progressive teaching methods during the Victorian era.

Lastly, one cannot discuss the Dilley surname without mentioning Sir Charles Wentworth Dilley (1889-1962), a British Army officer and military historian who served in both World Wars. His seminal work, "The Triumph of the English Language," is considered a landmark in the study of military linguistics.

While many variations of the name exist, the core Dilley surname has endured for centuries, reflecting its deep-rooted English heritage and the numerous notable individuals who have borne this distinctive surname throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dilley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dilley 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. Bedfordshire leads with 250 Dilleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 52.27x.

County Total Index
Bedfordshire 250 52.27x
Middlesex 157 1.70x
Cambridgeshire 81 13.84x
Leicestershire 79 7.71x
Hertfordshire 66 10.37x
Surrey 53 1.18x
Essex 43 2.36x
Huntingdonshire 42 22.90x
Yorkshire 40 0.44x
Northamptonshire 38 4.37x
Buckinghamshire 16 2.86x
Hampshire 14 0.74x
Lincolnshire 10 0.68x
Devon 6 0.31x
Kent 6 0.19x
Lancashire 6 0.05x
Suffolk 6 0.53x
Worcestershire 6 0.50x
Norfolk 5 0.35x
Nottinghamshire 5 0.40x
Staffordshire 5 0.16x
Midlothian 4 0.32x
Sussex 3 0.19x
Berkshire 1 0.14x
Cumberland 1 0.13x
Derbyshire 1 0.07x
Glamorgan 1 0.06x
Royal Navy 1 0.91x
Warwickshire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Clifton in Bedfordshire leads with 64 Dilleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1385.28x.

Place Total Index
Clifton 64 1385.28x
Meppershall 49 1991.87x
Hinckley 38 156.44x
Islington London 34 3.80x
Campton 30 1714.29x
Leicester St Margaret 25 10.01x
Southill 22 567.01x
Langford 21 534.35x
Grantchester 20 549.45x
Lambeth 17 2.11x
Cottered 16 1333.33x
West Ham 16 3.97x
Biggleswade 15 95.72x
Finchley 13 36.70x
Eynesbury 12 282.35x
Hitchin 12 41.75x
St Neots 12 120.36x
St Pancras London 12 1.61x
Baldock 11 183.64x
Barrington 11 558.38x
Battersea 11 3.24x
Wymington 11 700.64x
Leicester Newarke 10 187.27x
Portsea 10 2.69x
Hackney London 9 1.74x
Harlton 9 909.09x
Hipperholme Cum 9 22.38x
Mile End Old Town London 9 4.58x
Stotfold 9 98.25x
Clerkenwell London 8 3.67x
Graveley 8 1212.12x
Peterborough 8 12.72x
Shoreditch London 8 2.00x
St Marylebone London 8 1.62x
Tottenham 8 5.44x
Woodwalton 8 888.89x
Barking 7 13.12x
Hendon 7 21.06x
Northampton Priory St 7 13.43x
Sandy 7 83.04x
Southwark St George Martyr 7 3.77x
Upton Cum Chalvey 7 31.46x
Willesden 7 8.04x
Broughton 6 215.83x
Cheshunt 6 26.95x
East Ardsley 6 75.66x
Hanslope 6 119.52x
Harston 6 240.96x
Soham 6 47.66x
Walthamstow 6 9.14x
Arlesey 5 82.78x
Dry Drayton 5 420.17x
Highweek 5 72.89x
Isleham 5 93.11x
Kensington London 5 0.97x
Leeds 5 0.97x
Newmarket St Mary 5 57.87x
North Elmham 5 144.93x
Northampton All Sts 5 16.96x
Poddington 5 290.70x
St Luke London 5 3.37x
St Peterat Arches 5 295.86x
Theddingworth 5 641.03x
Watton 5 192.31x
Weekley 5 641.03x
Westminster St Margaret 5 11.22x
Whitwood 5 38.46x
Croydon Cum Clapton 4 264.90x
Greasley 4 14.24x
Great Clacton 4 64.41x
Hornsey 4 3.42x
Newington 4 1.17x
Norland 4 63.69x
Rugeley 4 17.87x
Shefford 4 117.65x
St Andrew Holborn London 4 10.00x
Sutton 4 10.88x
Sutton St Mary 4 28.63x
Templenewsam 4 60.33x
Waltham Holy Cross 4 23.47x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 60
Elizabeth 42
Sarah 33
Emma 24
Jane 23
Ann 20
Eliza 19
Emily 15
Ellen 13
Ada 11
Alice 11
Fanny 10
Clara 9
Louisa 9
Lucy 9
Maria 8
Martha 8
Rose 8
Annie 7
Hannah 7
Susan 7
Esther 6
Harriet 6
Ruth 6
Charlotte 5
Sophia 5
Amy 4
Anne 4
Florence 4
Agnes 3
Amelia 3
Edith 3
Elizth. 3
Harriett 3
Isabella 3
Julia 3
Kate 3
Abigail 2
Beatrice 2
Catherine 2
Charlott 2
Flora 2
Georgina 2
Lois 2
Lydia 2
Matilda 2
Rebecca 2
Rosina 2
Elizebeth 1
Victoria 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 60
George 46
William 44
Charles 37
James 34
Henry 19
Arthur 16
Thomas 15
Joseph 14
Alfred 12
Frederick 11
Samuel 10
Albert 8
Robert 8
Walter 8
David 7
Edward 7
Ernest 7
Geo. 6
Richard 6
Daniel 5
Harry 5
Herbert 4
Abel 2
Benjamin 2
Chas. 2
Edmund 2
Edwd. 2
Francis 2
Fred 2
Fredk. 2
Isaac 2
Jesse 2
Levi 2
Thos. 2
Wm. 2
Amos 1
Andrew 1
Benj. 1
Bertie 1
Charlotte 1
Ed. 1
Eli 1
Emery 1
Jack 1
Jas. 1
Jessie 1
Jonah 1
Josiah 1
Wm.John 1

FAQ

Dilley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dilley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 946 people were recorded with the Dilley surname. That placed it at #4,079 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dilley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,301 in 2016. That gives Dilley a modern rank of #4,603.

What does the Dilley surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "dell" or "small valley" combined with the suffix "-ley."

What does the Dilley map show?

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