NameCensus.

UK surname

Ealey

Derived from a place name meaning "clearing or meadow of eels" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 243 people recorded with the Ealey surname, ranking it #11,294 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 262, ranked #16,256, down from #11,294 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wellingborough, Swindon, Lyddington and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Liverpool, South Gloucestershire and Bath and North East Somerset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ealey is 310 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 7.8%.

1881 census count

243

Ranked #11,294

Modern count

262

2016, ranked #16,256

Peak year

1999

310 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ealey had 243 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,294 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 262 in 2016, ranked #16,256.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 296 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Ealey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ealey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ealey 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 173 #11,629
1861 historical 278 #8,998
1881 historical 243 #11,294
1891 historical 250 #12,762
1901 historical 296 #11,749
1911 historical 282 #11,915
1997 modern 284 #14,006
1998 modern 309 #13,612
1999 modern 310 #13,672
2000 modern 291 #14,200
2001 modern 288 #14,103
2002 modern 301 #13,962
2003 modern 293 #14,037
2004 modern 285 #14,344
2005 modern 278 #14,511
2006 modern 287 #14,295
2007 modern 287 #14,464
2008 modern 289 #14,502
2009 modern 287 #14,877
2010 modern 293 #14,974
2011 modern 288 #15,009
2012 modern 282 #15,158
2013 modern 282 #15,441
2014 modern 286 #15,378
2015 modern 273 #15,789
2016 modern 262 #16,256

Geography

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Where Ealeys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wellingborough, Swindon, Lyddington, London parishes, Kensington and Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Liverpool, South Gloucestershire, Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and West Oxfordshire. 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 Wellingborough Northamptonshire
2 Swindon, Lyddington Wiltshire
3 London parishes London 1
4 Kensington London (West Districts)
5 Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory Northamptonshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Liverpool 007 Liverpool
2 South Gloucestershire 003 South Gloucestershire
3 Bath and North East Somerset 008 Bath and North East Somerset
4 Swindon 009 Swindon
5 West Oxfordshire 008 West Oxfordshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ealey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ealey

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Ealey, 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 Ealey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Ealey 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

Professional Periphery

Within London, Ealey 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

Ealey 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

Ealey falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Ealey

The surname Ealey is believed to have originated in England, specifically in the region of Worcestershire, during the Middle Ages. It is thought to be a locational surname, derived from the Old English words "ea," meaning river, and "leah," meaning a meadow or woodland clearing. This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who lived near a river meadow or a clearing by a river.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ealey can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, where it appears as "Eley." This spelling variation highlights the fluid nature of surnames during that period, as they were often written phonetically by clerks.

In the 16th century, the Ealey name appears in various records, such as the Parish Registers of St. Mary's Church in Kidderminster, Worcestershire. These records include entries for individuals like John Ealey (born around 1550) and William Ealey (born around 1575).

The Ealey surname has also been linked to certain place names in Worcestershire, such as Eales Green and Eales Meadow, both of which may have influenced the development of the surname.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Ealey surname. One such person was Richard Ealey (1604-1664), an English Puritan clergyman and author, known for his work "An Antidote Against Heresy." Another was John Ealey (1630-1697), a prominent landowner and member of the gentry in Worcestershire.

In the 18th century, the Ealey name spread beyond Worcestershire, with individuals like Samuel Ealey (1726-1799), a successful merchant and landowner in Cheshire. The 19th century saw the birth of Thomas Ealey (1828-1899), a well-known architect who designed several notable buildings in London.

During the 20th century, one of the most famous individuals with the Ealey surname was Kenneth Ealey (1910-1996), a British writer and journalist who covered World War II and authored several books on military history.

Overall, the surname Ealey has a rich history rooted in the English countryside, with its origins dating back to the Middle Ages and a strong connection to the region of Worcestershire. Despite its localized beginnings, the name has since spread to various parts of England and beyond, leaving its mark on various fields throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ealey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ealey 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. Middlesex leads with 72 Ealeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.04x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 72 3.04x
Wiltshire 47 22.42x
Northamptonshire 36 16.15x
Essex 13 2.78x
Leicestershire 12 4.57x
Glamorgan 10 2.42x
Yorkshire 8 0.34x
Gloucestershire 6 1.29x
Lancashire 6 0.21x
Derbyshire 5 1.35x
Lincolnshire 5 1.32x
Staffordshire 4 0.50x
Buckinghamshire 3 2.09x
Kent 3 0.37x
Hampshire 2 0.41x
Somerset 2 0.52x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.67x
Cornwall 1 0.37x
Devon 1 0.20x
Hertfordshire 1 0.61x
Shropshire 1 0.49x
Suffolk 1 0.35x
Surrey 1 0.09x
Sussex 1 0.25x
Worcestershire 1 0.32x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Chelsea London in Middlesex leads with 13 Ealeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.20x.

Place Total Index
Chelsea London 13 18.20x
Cherhill 12 5217.39x
Kensington London 9 6.83x
Mears Ashby 9 2195.12x
Wanstead 9 109.89x
Avon 8 40000.00x
Enfield 8 51.45x
Leicester St Margaret 8 12.48x
Box 7 391.06x
Islington London 7 3.05x
Margam 7 152.17x
Sywell 7 3684.21x
Wootton Bassett 7 384.62x
Fulham London 6 17.45x
Northampton Priory St 6 44.84x
Wellingborough 6 53.52x
Matlock 5 100.40x
Northampton St Sepulchre 5 44.09x
St Pancras London 5 2.62x
Barton Upon Irwell 4 18.89x
Bristol St George 4 18.60x
Dewsbury 4 16.60x
East Langton 4 2000.00x
Gosberton 4 238.10x
Willenhall 4 26.68x
Willesden 4 17.91x
Hammersmith London 3 5.14x
Kington St Michael 3 810.81x
Ratcliffe London 3 22.92x
Swansea Town 3 8.87x
Alveston 2 303.03x
Bishopstoke 2 160.00x
Calne 2 46.30x
Cliffe Pypard 2 317.46x
Duston 2 99.01x
Edmonton 2 10.47x
Little Bentley 2 769.23x
Lyncombe Widcombe 2 20.02x
St George Hanover Square 2 4.79x
Upton Cum Chalvey 2 35.03x
Urchfont 2 232.56x
Westminster St James 2 8.21x
York Holy Trinity Kings 2 416.67x
Barcombe 1 104.17x
Barnsley 1 4.13x
Batley 1 4.48x
Beckenham 1 9.46x
Blankney 1 188.68x
Bow London 1 3.31x
Bromsgrove 1 9.60x
Buckingham 1 34.36x
Devizes St James 1 35.84x
Ealing 1 4.72x
East Barnet 1 30.86x
Exeter St Sidwell 1 8.85x
Great Coggeshall 1 41.15x
Greenwich 1 2.65x
Hampstead London 1 2.71x
Heston 1 12.71x
Hodnet 1 62.50x
Ipswich St Margaret 1 10.20x
Kingston On Thames 1 3.60x
Liverpool 1 0.59x
Melchet Park 1 2500.00x
Monken Hadley 1 105.26x
Ogbourne St George 1 256.41x
Paddington London 1 1.15x
Purleigh 1 142.86x
Shoreditch London 1 0.97x
St Agnes 1 26.60x
St George Bloomsbury 1 7.35x
Swindon 1 6.15x
Toxteth Park 1 1.05x
Weston Favell 1 222.22x
Wisbech St Peter 1 13.28x
Woolwich 1 3.35x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 22
Sarah 10
Annie 6
Elizabeth 6
Jane 6
Eliza 5
Emily 5
Ann 4
Ellen 4
Alice 3
Ada 2
Catherine 2
Edith 2
Florence 2
Georgina 2
Hannah 2
Kate 2
Margaret 2
Martha 2
Matilda 2
Rebecca 2
Amelia 1
Bessie 1
Cicely 1
Elise 1
Emma 1
Esther 1
Faney 1
Fannie 1
Grace 1
Harriett 1
Hellen 1
Isabella 1
Johanna 1
Lilly 1
Lizzia 1
Lizzy 1
Louisa 1
Louise 1
Lucy 1
Maria 1
Maud 1
Miny 1
Naomi 1
Rachael 1
Rhoda 1
Susan 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 13
William 13
George 10
James 10
Thomas 8
Charles 7
Henry 6
Isaac 5
Alfred 4
Frank 4
Albert 3
Herbert 3
Richard 3
Samuel 3
Daniel 2
Edward 2
Fred 2
Joseph 2
Stephen 2
Archd. 1
Arthur 1
Ben 1
Dan 1
David 1
Donald 1
Ernest 1
Fisher 1
Francis 1
Frederick 1
Fredrick 1
Hannah 1
Harry 1
Hezekiah 1
Hy.John 1
Jacob 1
Jas. 1
Simon 1
Wilford 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Ealey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ealey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 243 people were recorded with the Ealey surname. That placed it at #11,294 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ealey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 262 in 2016. That gives Ealey a modern rank of #16,256.

What does the Ealey surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "clearing or meadow of eels" in Old English.

What does the Ealey map show?

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