NameCensus.

UK surname

Eardley

A surname derived from a place name of an area in Staffordshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 1,127 people recorded with the Eardley surname, ranking it #3,534 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,939, ranked #3,300, up from #3,534 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Norton-in-the-Moors, Wolstanton and Burslem. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Newcastle-under-Lyme and Stoke-on-Trent.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Eardley is 1,983 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 72.0%.

1881 census count

1,127

Ranked #3,534

Modern count

1,939

2016, ranked #3,300

Peak year

2014

1,983 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Eardley had 1,127 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,534 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,939 in 2016, ranked #3,300.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,329 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Eardley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Eardley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Eardley 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 628 #4,135
1861 historical 627 #4,272
1881 historical 1,127 #3,534
1891 historical 1,140 #3,734
1901 historical 1,329 #3,769
1911 historical 1,328 #3,601
1997 modern 1,370 #4,206
1998 modern 1,908 #3,280
1999 modern 1,924 #3,278
2000 modern 1,917 #3,280
2001 modern 1,877 #3,271
2002 modern 1,942 #3,246
2003 modern 1,901 #3,238
2004 modern 1,897 #3,245
2005 modern 1,875 #3,248
2006 modern 1,913 #3,217
2007 modern 1,919 #3,224
2008 modern 1,914 #3,253
2009 modern 1,967 #3,260
2010 modern 1,961 #3,327
2011 modern 1,976 #3,263
2012 modern 1,886 #3,347
2013 modern 1,952 #3,310
2014 modern 1,983 #3,283
2015 modern 1,953 #3,292
2016 modern 1,939 #3,300

Geography

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Where Eardleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Norton-in-the-Moors, Wolstanton, Burslem, Bangor and Newcastle-under Lyne. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Newcastle-under-Lyme and Stoke-on-Trent. 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 Norton-in-the-Moors Staffordshire
2 Wolstanton Staffordshire
3 Burslem Staffordshire
4 Bangor Carnarvonshire
5 Newcastle-under Lyne Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Newcastle-under-Lyme 005 Newcastle-under-Lyme
2 Stoke-on-Trent 004 Stoke-on-Trent
3 Stoke-on-Trent 009 Stoke-on-Trent
4 Stoke-on-Trent 001 Stoke-on-Trent
5 Stoke-on-Trent 006 Stoke-on-Trent

Forenames

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First names often paired with Eardley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Eardley

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Eardley 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

Eardley is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Eardley falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Eardley

The surname Eardley is of English origin and dates back to the late 11th century. It is derived from the Old English words "eart", meaning a piece of ground, and "ley", meaning a clearing or meadow. This name likely originated in the counties of Staffordshire or Cheshire, where several places bearing the name Eardley were established during the medieval period.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Eardley surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Ardeldei" and refers to a settlement in Staffordshire. This early spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time.

In the 13th century, records show an individual named William de Eardley holding land in the village of Eardley, located near the town of Sandbach in Cheshire. This suggests that the Eardley family had established itself as landowners in the area during that period.

During the 14th century, a notable figure bearing the Eardley name was Sir Thomas Eardley (c. 1320 - 1380), a knight and military commander who fought in the Hundred Years' War alongside Edward, the Black Prince. He was awarded lands in Cheshire for his service.

In the 16th century, the Eardley family gained prominence through their involvement in the English Reformation. Thomas Eardley (1504 - 1570) was a Protestant clergyman and a close associate of Archbishop Thomas Cranmer, playing a role in the establishment of the Church of England.

Another notable figure was Sir Culling Eardley (1605 - 1663), a lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament during the English Civil War. He was a staunch Royalist and supported King Charles I during the conflict.

The Eardley surname has also been associated with several place names, such as Eardley End in Staffordshire and Eardley Green in Cheshire, further reinforcing its geographical ties to these regions.

Throughout history, the Eardley family has produced numerous individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields, including politics, military service, and religious affairs. While the name has evolved in spelling over the centuries, its origins remain firmly rooted in the English countryside of Staffordshire and Cheshire.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Eardley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Eardley 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. Staffordshire leads with 649 Eardleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.50x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 649 17.50x
Cheshire 94 3.88x
Lancashire 90 0.69x
Middlesex 54 0.49x
Shropshire 54 5.69x
Caernarfonshire 28 6.30x
Warwickshire 24 0.87x
Yorkshire 21 0.19x
Denbighshire 17 4.10x
Gloucestershire 13 0.60x
Surrey 13 0.24x
Leicestershire 12 0.99x
Derbyshire 11 0.64x
Cornwall 8 0.64x
Durham 6 0.18x
Nottinghamshire 6 0.41x
Anglesey 5 2.57x
Sussex 5 0.27x
Lincolnshire 4 0.23x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.30x
Hampshire 2 0.09x
Worcestershire 2 0.14x
Bedfordshire 1 0.18x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.22x
Devon 1 0.04x
Northumberland 1 0.06x
Renfrewshire 1 0.12x
Somerset 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Upon Trent in Staffordshire leads with 115 Eardleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.25x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Upon Trent 115 29.25x
Burslem 111 104.51x
Wolstanton 109 96.79x
Newcastle Under Lyme 42 64.02x
Manchester 38 6.48x
Audley 36 98.15x
Bangor 27 63.03x
Horton 20 440.53x
Biddulph 19 90.82x
Tottenham 18 10.29x
Kingswinford 17 12.63x
Wolstanton Knutton 17 75.09x
Wrockwardine 17 81.46x
Congleton 14 33.42x
Norton In Hales 14 1000.00x
Alsager 13 215.59x
Norton In Moors 13 66.23x
Cheddleton 12 154.64x
St Pancras London 12 1.36x
Caldecott 11 5238.10x
Sandbach 11 53.19x
Audlem 10 175.13x
Betley 10 323.62x
Ardwick 9 7.66x
Ashby De La Zouch 9 31.88x
Walsall Foreign 9 4.70x
Albrighton 8 174.67x
Chorlton On Medlock 8 3.86x
Coventry St Michael 8 8.99x
Islington London 8 0.75x
St Gluvias 8 114.94x
Brymbo 7 48.44x
Caverswall 7 36.33x
Clifton 7 6.43x
Foleshill 7 24.02x
Leek Frith 7 226.54x
Leftwich 7 65.00x
Newington 7 1.73x
Smallthorne 7 50.87x
Standon 7 518.52x
Willenhall 7 10.08x
Wolstanton Chatterly 7 183.73x
Chester Le Street 6 23.91x
Gloucester Barton St 6 47.51x
Handsworth 6 6.57x
Mucklestone 6 168.54x
Wolstanton Thursfield 6 133.33x
Abbots Bromley 5 90.91x
Allington 5 161.29x
Aston 5 0.66x
Bobbington 5 328.95x
Cantley 5 238.10x
East Retford 5 38.94x
Eston 5 21.09x
Llandysilio 5 81.83x
Moss Side 5 7.29x
Rushton James 5 500.00x
West Bromwich 5 2.36x
Wigan 5 2.75x
Cheswardine 4 98.77x
Colwich 4 45.40x
Crowle 4 37.42x
Dawley 4 11.58x
Derby St Peter 4 7.30x
Gainsborough 4 9.66x
Hackney London 4 0.65x
Ipstones 4 75.05x
Kirkdale 4 1.82x
Leigh 4 162.60x
Newport 4 34.93x
Newton 4 3.98x
Paddington London 4 0.99x
Stafford St Mary 4 7.62x
Wharton 4 30.30x
Alfreton 3 5.74x
Castle Northwich 3 37.41x
Crofton 3 111.52x
Leamington Priors 3 4.40x
Litchurch 3 4.34x
Muston 3 256.41x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 66
John 60
Thomas 47
George 44
James 24
Edward 22
Henry 21
Samuel 17
Alfred 15
Joseph 14
Charles 13
Richard 10
Daniel 9
Frederick 8
Albert 7
Edwin 7
Robert 7
Arthur 5
Enoch 5
Herbert 5
Benjamin 4
David 4
Francis 4
Frank 4
Fredk. 3
Harry 3
Isaac 3
Stephen 3
Thos. 3
Wm. 3
Abraham 2
Andrew 2
Chas. 2
Elijah 2
Ernest 2
Fred. 2
Hugh 2
Infant 2
Josiah 2
Levi 2
Matthew 2
Noah 2
Owen 2
Peter 2
Sydney 2
Walter 2
Wilmot 2
Bertram 1
Edrd. 1
Wm.Henry 1

FAQ

Eardley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Eardley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,127 people were recorded with the Eardley surname. That placed it at #3,534 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Eardley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,939 in 2016. That gives Eardley a modern rank of #3,300.

What does the Eardley surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name of an area in Staffordshire, England.

What does the Eardley map show?

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