UK surname
A locational surname originally referring to someone from Dolley in England.
In the 1881 census there were 137 people recorded with the Doley surname, ranking it #16,358 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 71, ranked #33,633, down from #16,358 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Doley is 212 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 48.2%.
1881 census count
137
Ranked #16,358
Modern count
71
2016, ranked #33,633
Peak year
1861
212 bearers
Map years
6
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Doley surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Doley surname density by area, 1881 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 | 126 | #14,626 |
| 1861 | historical | 212 | #11,466 |
| 1881 | historical | 137 | #16,358 |
| 1891 | historical | 190 | #15,486 |
| 1901 | historical | 145 | #18,426 |
| 1911 | historical | 184 | #15,742 |
| 1997 | modern | 88 | #28,611 |
| 1998 | modern | 93 | #28,563 |
| 1999 | modern | 89 | #29,168 |
| 2000 | modern | 83 | #29,809 |
| 2001 | modern | 77 | #30,277 |
| 2002 | modern | 74 | #31,048 |
| 2003 | modern | 72 | #31,281 |
| 2004 | modern | 71 | #31,578 |
| 2005 | modern | 73 | #31,616 |
| 2006 | modern | 76 | #31,633 |
| 2007 | modern | 72 | #32,397 |
| 2008 | modern | 71 | #32,753 |
| 2009 | modern | 71 | #33,102 |
| 2010 | modern | 67 | #33,713 |
| 2011 | modern | 68 | #33,613 |
| 2012 | modern | 66 | #33,901 |
| 2013 | modern | 68 | #33,877 |
| 2014 | modern | 68 | #33,898 |
| 2015 | modern | 68 | #33,854 |
| 2016 | modern | 71 | #33,633 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors, London parishes, Walsall and Warrington. 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 | Wolverhampton | Staffordshire |
| 2 | Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors | Shropshire |
| 3 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 4 | Walsall | Staffordshire |
| 5 | Warrington | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Doley 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 Doley, 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 Doley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Doley 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, Doley 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 Doley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Doley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Doley has its origins in England, with the earliest records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from a place called Dolau or Dolley in Radnorshire, Wales. The name may have evolved from the Welsh words "dol" meaning a meadow or dale, and "hau" meaning a place.
In the Domesday Book of 1086, there are no direct references to the surname Doley, but the place name "Dolau" is mentioned as a settlement in Radnorshire. This suggests that the surname Doley may have emerged from this location in later centuries.
One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was John de Dolley, who was mentioned in the Feet of Fines for Oxfordshire in 1273. The Feet of Fines were legal records documenting the transfer of land ownership. This indicates that the Doley family held lands in Oxfordshire during the 13th century.
In the 14th century, the name appeared as "de Dolley" and "de Dolly" in various records, such as the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire (1327) and the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire (1332). These variations suggest that the spelling of the name was not yet standardized.
A notable individual with the surname Doley was Sir Robert Doley (1566-1637), an English merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1629. He was a prominent figure in the East India Company and played a significant role in expanding England's trade interests in the Indian subcontinent.
Another person of historical significance was Thomas Doley (1658-1727), an English clergyman and theologian who served as the Bishop of Rochester from 1721 until his death. He was known for his scholarly works on church history and theology.
In the 18th century, the surname Doley was also found in the United States, with records indicating that a family bearing this name settled in Virginia. One of the earliest documented individuals was William Doley (1734-1810), who served as a lieutenant in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.
John Doley (1792-1868) was a British architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Church of St. John the Evangelist in Islington. His works were influenced by the Gothic Revival architectural style.
Another individual worth mentioning is Mary Doley (1845-1922), an English social reformer and philanthropist who dedicated her life to improving the living conditions of the working class in Manchester. She established several charitable organizations and played a significant role in promoting education and healthcare for underprivileged communities.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Doley 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. Warwickshire leads with 51 Doleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.13x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Warwickshire | 51 | 15.13x |
| Staffordshire | 38 | 8.42x |
| Lancashire | 18 | 1.14x |
| Middlesex | 10 | 0.75x |
| Yorkshire | 8 | 0.60x |
| Shropshire | 5 | 4.33x |
| Worcestershire | 2 | 1.15x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.34x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 0.48x |
| Devon | 1 | 0.36x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.22x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.15x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 47 Doleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 41.85x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | 47 | 41.85x |
| Walsall Foreign | 10 | 42.92x |
| Warrington | 10 | 53.19x |
| Wolverhampton | 10 | 28.84x |
| Brewood | 7 | 538.46x |
| Holbeck | 6 | 68.42x |
| Broughton In Salford | 3 | 20.69x |
| Burntwood Edial | 3 | 104.17x |
| Kensington London | 3 | 4.04x |
| St Giles In Fields London | 3 | 45.73x |
| Wellington | 3 | 46.23x |
| Aston | 2 | 2.16x |
| Newton | 2 | 16.37x |
| Powick | 2 | 165.29x |
| St Pancras London | 2 | 1.86x |
| Stoke Upon Trent | 2 | 4.18x |
| Walsall Borough | 2 | 57.14x |
| Ardwick | 1 | 6.99x |
| Cannock | 1 | 12.71x |
| Cheddleton | 1 | 106.38x |
| Derby St Werburgh | 1 | 8.28x |
| Doncaster | 1 | 10.34x |
| Edgbaston | 1 | 9.57x |
| Ercall Magna | 1 | 120.48x |
| Handsworth | 1 | 8.99x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 0.86x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 1.04x |
| Packwood | 1 | 769.23x |
| Rochester St Margaret | 1 | 20.79x |
| Salford | 1 | 2.14x |
| Shipley | 1 | 14.56x |
| St George Hanover Square | 1 | 4.25x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 1.40x |
| Stoke Damerel | 1 | 5.14x |
| Walton Inferior | 1 | 434.78x |
| Wem | 1 | 58.14x |
| West Bromwich | 1 | 3.87x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Doley 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 Doley 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 Doley households.
FAQ
In 1881, 137 people were recorded with the Doley surname. That placed it at #16,358 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 71 in 2016. That gives Doley a modern rank of #33,633.
A locational surname originally referring to someone from Dolley in England.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Doley 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.