UK surname
A surname derived from a place name in Yorkshire, England, referring to someone who came from Emley.
In the 1881 census there were 51 people recorded with the Emley surname, ranking it #26,428 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 33, ranked #35,829, down from #26,428 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Newcastle St Andrew, Warton and St George Tombland, St Peter Mountergate, St John Timberhill, All Saints, St Michael at Thorn, St Ju. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Emley is 102 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 35.3%.
1881 census count
51
Ranked #26,428
Modern count
33
2016, ranked #35,829
Peak year
1861
102 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Emley surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Emley surname density by area, 1861 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 | 72 | #20,720 |
| 1861 | historical | 102 | #20,797 |
| 1881 | historical | 51 | #26,428 |
| 1891 | historical | 83 | #26,376 |
| 1901 | historical | 77 | #25,627 |
| 1911 | historical | 6 | #33,255 |
| 1997 | modern | 33 | #34,377 |
| 1998 | modern | 39 | #33,967 |
| 1999 | modern | 39 | #34,058 |
| 2000 | modern | 35 | #34,420 |
| 2001 | modern | 36 | #34,171 |
| 2002 | modern | 36 | #34,480 |
| 2003 | modern | 38 | #34,361 |
| 2004 | modern | 37 | #34,640 |
| 2005 | modern | 38 | #34,741 |
| 2006 | modern | 38 | #35,003 |
| 2007 | modern | 37 | #35,215 |
| 2008 | modern | 37 | #35,327 |
| 2009 | modern | 34 | #35,608 |
| 2010 | modern | 35 | #35,676 |
| 2011 | modern | 32 | #35,831 |
| 2012 | modern | 35 | #35,645 |
| 2013 | modern | 33 | #35,808 |
| 2014 | modern | 32 | #35,896 |
| 2015 | modern | 31 | #35,939 |
| 2016 | modern | 33 | #35,829 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Newcastle St Andrew, Warton, St George Tombland, St Peter Mountergate, St John Timberhill, All Saints, St Michael at Thorn, St Ju, Gateshead and Lambeth. 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 | Newcastle St Andrew | Northumberland |
| 2 | Warton | Lancashire |
| 3 | St George Tombland, St Peter Mountergate, St John Timberhill, All Saints, St Michael at Thorn, St Ju | Norfolk |
| 4 | Gateshead | Durham |
| 5 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Emley 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 Emley, 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 Emley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Emley 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, Emley 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 Emley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Emley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Emley originates from England and dates back to the medieval era. It is believed to be a locational name derived from the village of Emley in West Yorkshire, which was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Amelai". The name is thought to have evolved from the Old English words "ęmel" meaning "ridge" and "leah" meaning "clearing" or "meadow".
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Emley can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, where a person named Radulfus de Emley is mentioned. In the 13th century, a landowner named William de Emley is documented in the Feet of Fines records for Yorkshire.
During the 14th century, the surname appears in various historical records, such as the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1327, which lists a John de Emley. The Lay Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire from 1332 also mention a Robert de Emley.
In the 15th century, the surname is recorded in the Paston Letters, a collection of correspondence from the influential Paston family of Norfolk. One letter, dated 1472, mentions a certain Thomas Emley, who was likely a servant or retainer of the Paston household.
Notable individuals with the surname Emley throughout history include Sir John Emley (c. 1550-1620), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Stockbridge in Hampshire during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another distinguished figure was Reverend Thomas Emley (1663-1743), an English clergyman and author who published several religious works in the early 18th century.
During the 18th century, William Emley (1701-1782) was a prominent English architect and surveyor who worked on various projects in London and the surrounding areas. In the 19th century, Dr. Samuel Emley (1812-1889) was a respected physician and author who wrote several medical treatises.
One of the most famous individuals with the surname Emley was Sir John Emley-Blackwell (1864-1932), a British businessman and philanthropist who made his fortune in the textile industry. He was knighted for his contributions to the community and charitable endeavors.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Emley 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. Lancashire leads with 28 Emleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.75x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 28 | 4.75x |
| Northumberland | 11 | 14.87x |
| Yorkshire | 8 | 1.62x |
| Surrey | 4 | 1.65x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Newcastle On Tyne St in Northumberland leads with 10 Emleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 261.10x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Newcastle On Tyne St | 10 | 261.10x |
| Liverpool | 9 | 25.12x |
| Warton With Lindeth | 9 | 3600.00x |
| Broughton In Salford | 6 | 111.32x |
| Lambeth | 4 | 9.23x |
| Great Little Marsden | 3 | 111.11x |
| Huddersfield | 2 | 27.86x |
| Bradford | 1 | 8.38x |
| Ecclesall Bierlow | 1 | 9.98x |
| Elswick | 1 | 16.95x |
| Gomersal | 1 | 43.48x |
| Hipperholme Cum | 1 | 46.30x |
| Kirkheaton | 1 | 125.00x |
| Lancaster | 1 | 28.49x |
| Sandal Magna | 1 | 136.99x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Emley 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 Emley 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 Emley households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 13 |
| Shopman Ironmonger | 2 |
| Wife | 2 |
| Agriculture Laborer | 1 |
| Annuitant | 1 |
| Architect | 1 |
| Cloth Birler At Mill | 1 |
| Corn Miller | 1 |
| Excavertor | 1 |
| General Laborer | 1 |
| Hotel Waiter | 1 |
| Housewife | 1 |
| Iron Miner | 1 |
| Ironmonger | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Nurse (Hospital Servt) | 1 |
| Post Messenger C S | 1 |
| Railway Porter | 1 |
| Solicitor | 1 |
| Teacher Of Music | 1 |
| Warehouse Man (... Factory) (AB Imps) | 1 |
| Watch Maker | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 51 people were recorded with the Emley surname. That placed it at #26,428 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 33 in 2016. That gives Emley a modern rank of #35,829.
A surname derived from a place name in Yorkshire, England, referring to someone who came from Emley.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Emley 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.