NameCensus.

UK surname

Eley

An English toponymic surname derived from any of the various places named Eley, likely meaning "eel island."

In the 1881 census there were 1,855 people recorded with the Eley surname, ranking it #2,353 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,937, ranked #2,298, up from #2,353 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Alkmund, London parishes and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Neath Port Talbot, Newark and Sherwood and Shropshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Eley is 3,113 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 58.3%.

1881 census count

1,855

Ranked #2,353

Modern count

2,937

2016, ranked #2,298

Peak year

1998

3,113 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Eley had 1,855 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,353 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,937 in 2016, ranked #2,298.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,887 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Eley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Eley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Eley 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 1,115 #2,527
1861 historical 1,249 #2,280
1881 historical 1,855 #2,353
1891 historical 2,222 #2,098
1901 historical 2,470 #2,212
1911 historical 2,887 #1,804
1997 modern 2,965 #2,182
1998 modern 3,113 #2,156
1999 modern 3,100 #2,184
2000 modern 3,088 #2,182
2001 modern 3,019 #2,183
2002 modern 3,052 #2,206
2003 modern 3,015 #2,177
2004 modern 2,965 #2,215
2005 modern 2,914 #2,221
2006 modern 2,878 #2,255
2007 modern 2,898 #2,263
2008 modern 2,892 #2,282
2009 modern 2,988 #2,256
2010 modern 3,028 #2,284
2011 modern 2,985 #2,286
2012 modern 2,940 #2,278
2013 modern 3,005 #2,266
2014 modern 3,003 #2,287
2015 modern 2,958 #2,290
2016 modern 2,937 #2,298

Geography

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Where Eleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Alkmund, London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Stafford St Mary and St Chad, Tillington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Neath Port Talbot, Newark and Sherwood, Shropshire, East Cambridgeshire and South Derbyshire. 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 St Alkmund Derbyshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
4 Stafford St Mary and St Chad, Tillington Staffordshire
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Neath Port Talbot 016 Neath Port Talbot
2 Newark and Sherwood 001 Newark and Sherwood
3 Shropshire 005 Shropshire
4 East Cambridgeshire 006 East Cambridgeshire
5 South Derbyshire 008 South Derbyshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Eley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Eley

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

Eley is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Eley falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Eley

The surname Eley originates from England and can be traced back to the 11th century. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from the Old English words "el" meaning "eel" and "ey" meaning "island" or "river meadow." This suggests that the name likely originated in areas where eels were abundant, such as marshlands or near bodies of water.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Eleie" and "Eleye." This important historical record provides evidence of the name's existence during the Norman Conquest of England.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, including "Elegh," "Eleye," and "Eley," reflecting regional variations in spelling and pronunciation. One notable example is John de Eley, a landowner mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Yorkshire in 1285.

During the 14th century, the Eley family established roots in Norfolk, England, where several members were recorded in local records and tax rolls. For instance, William Eley was noted as a resident of Norwich in 1379.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Sir John Eley, a prominent English knight who fought alongside King Edward III in the Hundred Years' War against France. He was born around 1320 and participated in the Battle of Crécy in 1346.

In the 16th century, the Eley family gained prominence in the county of Buckinghamshire. Thomas Eley, born in 1522, was a renowned scholar and author who wrote extensively on religious matters.

Another notable figure was Sir Ralph Eley, born in 1573, who served as a member of Parliament and played a significant role in the English Civil War, supporting the Parliamentarian cause against King Charles I.

During the 17th century, the Eley name spread to various parts of England, with families settling in Lincolnshire, Warwickshire, and Somerset. One noteworthy individual was Sir William Eley, born in 1637, who was a successful merchant and philanthropist in London.

The 18th century saw the rise of William Eley, born in 1766, a renowned English manufacturer and inventor. He established the Eley Cartridge Company, which produced innovative ammunition and firearms components, contributing significantly to the development of modern weaponry.

Throughout history, the Eley surname has been associated with various professions, including landowners, scholars, military figures, and industrialists. While the name's origins can be traced to specific regions in England, it has since spread globally, with bearers of the Eley name found in numerous countries around the world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Eley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Eley 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. Derbyshire leads with 349 Eleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.34x.

County Total Index
Derbyshire 349 12.34x
Middlesex 242 1.34x
Essex 188 5.27x
Lincolnshire 118 4.09x
Suffolk 114 5.18x
Surrey 98 1.11x
Staffordshire 92 1.51x
Kent 59 0.96x
Yorkshire 49 0.27x
Nottinghamshire 48 1.97x
Lancashire 45 0.21x
Berkshire 41 3.02x
Cambridgeshire 40 3.50x
Gloucestershire 40 1.13x
Worcestershire 37 1.57x
Glamorgan 34 1.08x
Cornwall 29 1.42x
Warwickshire 24 0.53x
Oxfordshire 23 2.06x
Norfolk 22 0.79x
Hampshire 19 0.51x
Northamptonshire 18 1.06x
Cheshire 17 0.43x
Hertfordshire 16 1.28x
Wiltshire 16 1.00x
Durham 15 0.28x
Shropshire 10 0.64x
Sussex 10 0.33x
Monmouthshire 8 0.61x
Somerset 8 0.28x
Devon 6 0.16x
Fife 6 0.56x
Herefordshire 6 0.81x
Leicestershire 3 0.15x
Bedfordshire 1 0.11x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.17x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Derby St Werburgh in Derbyshire leads with 73 Eleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 44.70x.

Place Total Index
Derby St Werburgh 73 44.70x
Heanor 42 99.29x
Derby St Alkmund 34 40.11x
Church Gresley 33 73.33x
Nottingham St Mary 33 5.24x
Stafford St Mary 33 38.23x
Colchester St Giles 25 70.94x
Dudley 24 8.37x
St Pancras London 24 1.65x
Kensington London 23 2.29x
St Minver 23 369.18x
Linton 22 202.21x
Derby All Sts 20 84.67x
Chelmsford 19 31.05x
East Sutton 19 791.67x
Islington London 19 1.09x
Battersea 17 2.56x
Belper 17 31.00x
Clerkenwell London 17 3.99x
Enfield 17 14.34x
Lambeth 17 1.08x
Buckland 16 357.94x
Spotland 16 6.71x
Boston 15 17.12x
Newington 15 2.25x
Chelsea London 14 2.57x
Codnor Loscoe 14 62.50x
Croft 14 298.51x
Great Oakley 13 227.67x
Tideswell 13 105.86x
Mile End Old Town London 12 3.12x
St Marylebone London 12 1.24x
Tolleshunt Knights 12 422.54x
Boxford 11 269.61x
Camberwell 11 0.95x
Peterborough 11 8.94x
St Luke London 11 3.80x
Bermondsey 10 1.86x
Aston 9 0.72x
Burton Extra 9 25.74x
Bushey 9 30.35x
Derby St Peter 9 9.99x
Duffield 9 40.38x
Frithville 9 1406.25x
Great Stanmore 9 110.97x
Hackney London 9 0.89x
Hartlip 9 378.15x
Ipswich St Clement 9 16.09x
Ipswich St Mathew 9 14.59x
Kirk Langley 9 213.78x
Mexborough 9 25.33x
Ryde 9 11.31x
Shrewsbury St Chad 9 16.43x
Wandsworth 9 5.18x
Bedminster 8 2.93x
Birkdale 8 14.75x
Bristol St George 8 4.88x
Foxhall 8 516.13x
Geldeston 8 441.99x
Gosfield 8 211.08x
Hampton Wick London 8 60.47x
Highworth 8 39.16x
Ipswich St Margaret 8 10.71x
Little Coggeshall 8 357.14x
Margam 8 22.81x
Midville 8 634.92x
Skirbeck 8 49.41x
Swarkeston 8 620.16x
Barking 7 6.71x
Bethnal Green London 7 0.89x
Burton Upon Trent 7 4.91x
Chislehurst 7 21.18x
East Dereham 7 19.95x
Great Grimsby 7 3.82x
Hurst 7 39.44x
Linton 7 94.09x
Litchurch 7 6.15x
Oxford St Giles 7 13.15x
Rowley Regis 7 4.12x
Skegness 7 84.64x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 105
Elizabeth 70
Sarah 59
Eliza 42
Ann 35
Alice 34
Annie 31
Emma 31
Ellen 24
Jane 23
Hannah 21
Florence 18
Emily 16
Harriet 16
Fanny 14
Martha 14
Caroline 12
Harriett 12
Margaret 11
Charlotte 10
Kate 10
Maria 10
Clara 9
Louisa 9
Ada 8
Agnes 8
Catherine 8
Edith 8
Esther 8
Lucy 8
Lydia 8
Henrietta 7
Julia 7
Sophia 7
Anne 6
Beatrice 6
Matilda 6
Amy 5
Anna 5
Frances 5
Ruth 5
Susan 5
Susannah 5
Amelia 4
Betsy 4
Rose 4
Lizzie 3
Lousia 3
Minnie 3
Nellie 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 117
John 94
George 74
Thomas 56
James 54
Charles 51
Joseph 40
Henry 32
Alfred 22
Robert 21
Samuel 21
Walter 21
Arthur 20
Edward 20
Frederick 17
Albert 16
Harry 13
Frank 10
Richard 10
Benjamin 9
David 9
Ernest 9
Francis 9
Daniel 8
Herbert 8
Isaac 8
Fred 5
Matthew 4
Thos. 4
Wm. 4
Abraham 3
Edgar 3
Edwin 3
Eli 3
Enoch 3
Joshua 3
Louis 3
Philip 3
Amos 2
Anthony 2
Ben. 2
Chas. 2
Clarence 2
Evan 2
Jas. 2
Martin 2
Nathan 2
Sidney 2
Sydney 2
T. 2

FAQ

Eley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Eley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,855 people were recorded with the Eley surname. That placed it at #2,353 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Eley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,937 in 2016. That gives Eley a modern rank of #2,298.

What does the Eley surname mean?

An English toponymic surname derived from any of the various places named Eley, likely meaning "eel island."

What does the Eley map show?

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