NameCensus.

UK surname

Exelby

A locational surname derived from the village of Exelby in Yorkshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 224 people recorded with the Exelby surname, ranking it #11,970 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 289, ranked #15,137, down from #11,970 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Keverne, Leeds and Knaresborough (Bilton and Harrogate, Scriven with Tentergate, Knaresborough), Pannall. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hambleton, Cornwall and Harrogate.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Exelby is 302 in 2009. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 29.0%.

1881 census count

224

Ranked #11,970

Modern count

289

2016, ranked #15,137

Peak year

2009

302 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Exelby had 224 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,970 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 289 in 2016, ranked #15,137.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 300 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Exelby surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Exelby surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Exelby 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 180 #11,300
1861 historical 165 #14,112
1881 historical 224 #11,970
1891 historical 239 #13,173
1901 historical 288 #11,973
1911 historical 300 #11,441
1997 modern 277 #14,253
1998 modern 294 #14,060
1999 modern 292 #14,204
2000 modern 292 #14,165
2001 modern 277 #14,474
2002 modern 295 #14,146
2003 modern 293 #14,037
2004 modern 280 #14,530
2005 modern 274 #14,663
2006 modern 277 #14,667
2007 modern 283 #14,579
2008 modern 287 #14,580
2009 modern 302 #14,353
2010 modern 302 #14,661
2011 modern 300 #14,591
2012 modern 287 #14,978
2013 modern 297 #14,844
2014 modern 296 #14,982
2015 modern 291 #15,078
2016 modern 289 #15,137

Geography

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Where Exelbys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Keverne, Leeds, Knaresborough (Bilton and Harrogate, Scriven with Tentergate, Knaresborough), Pannall, Askham Bryan and Ruan Major, Grade. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hambleton, Cornwall, Harrogate and Chichester. 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 Keverne Cornwall
2 Leeds Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Knaresborough (Bilton and Harrogate, Scriven with Tentergate, Knaresborough), Pannall Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Askham Bryan Yorkshire, East Riding
5 Ruan Major, Grade Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hambleton 005 Hambleton
2 Hambleton 007 Hambleton
3 Cornwall 049 Cornwall
4 Harrogate 001 Harrogate
5 Chichester 009 Chichester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Exelby

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Exelby

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Exelby, 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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Exelby surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Exelby household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Established Homeowners with Children

Within London, Exelby is most associated with areas classed as Established Homeowners with Children, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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 predominantly British-born residents are typically married/in civil partnerships and own the properties in which they are raising their children. Parents are typically over 45, and many other residents are beyond normal retirement age. Detached and semi-detached houses predominate and multiple car ownership is common.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Exelby is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Exelby falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Exelby

The surname Exelby is of English origin, specifically hailing from the historic county of Yorkshire in northern England. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "ex", meaning ox, and "hyll", meaning hill or ridge, suggesting the name's earliest bearers resided near a prominent oxen grazing area on higher ground.

One of the earliest recorded references to the Exelby surname appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landholdings commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry mentions a landowner named Teodric de Exelby, indicating the surname's longevity in Yorkshire.

During the 13th century, the name Exelby was closely associated with the village of Exelby, located near the town of Bedale in North Yorkshire. Historical records from this era often refer to individuals as "de Exelby", signifying their place of origin.

Notable individuals bearing the Exelby surname include Sir William Exelby (1455-1528), a prominent landowner and knight who served as High Sheriff of Yorkshire during the reign of Henry VIII. Another notable figure was John Exelby (1619-1683), a Puritan minister and author who published several religious tracts.

In the 18th century, the name Exelby gained further recognition with the achievements of Thomas Exelby (1721-1798), a renowned architect responsible for designing several grand estates and country houses throughout Yorkshire.

The 19th century saw the rise of Charles Exelby (1854-1928), a successful businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the development of the city of Leeds. His legacy includes the establishment of the Exelby Trust, which continues to support educational and charitable causes.

While fewer in number, the Exelby surname has been carried by individuals such as Henry Exelby (1892-1968), a decorated military officer who served in both World War I and World War II, and Margaret Exelby (1915-2003), a celebrated botanist and conservationist recognized for her work in preserving rare plant species.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Exelby families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Exelby 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. Yorkshire leads with 147 Exelbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.79x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 147 6.79x
Cornwall 46 18.60x
Lancashire 14 0.54x
Middlesex 6 0.27x
Midlothian 4 1.37x
Nottinghamshire 4 1.36x
Durham 1 0.15x
Lincolnshire 1 0.29x
Staffordshire 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Askham Bryan in Yorkshire leads with 12 Exelbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 5217.39x.

Place Total Index
Askham Bryan 12 5217.39x
St Keverne 11 808.82x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 10 135.14x
Calverley Cum Farsley 7 113.82x
Grade 7 3181.82x
Leeds 7 5.73x
Mullion 7 1555.56x
Thorganby Cum West 7 2333.33x
York St Mary 7 78.04x
Constantine 6 416.67x
Dalton In Furness 6 59.94x
Dewsbury 6 27.01x
York St Margaret 6 447.76x
Clifton In York 5 110.38x
Laytham 5 10000.00x
Newton Kyme Cum 5 4166.67x
York St Michael 5 1612.90x
Barlby 4 1052.63x
Hipperholme Cum 4 42.06x
Manaccan 4 1481.48x
Nottingham St Mary 4 5.25x
St Luke London 4 11.41x
York St George 4 233.92x
York St Nicholas In 4 327.87x
Copmanthorpe 3 1304.35x
Dalkeith 3 51.99x
Manchester 3 2.57x
Monk Frystone 3 789.47x
Potto 3 1875.00x
Ruan Minor 3 1363.64x
Skelton In Guisbrough 3 51.19x
Snape 3 857.14x
Sowerby In Halifax 3 42.37x
Studley Roger 3 2727.27x
Acomb 2 176.99x
Ardwick 2 8.55x
Azerley 2 384.62x
Chorlton On Medlock 2 4.86x
Landewednack 2 454.55x
Mawgan In Meneage 2 312.50x
Paul 2 44.54x
Seaton Ross 2 555.56x
Stokesley 2 148.15x
Thornton Watlass 2 1428.57x
Yapham With Meltonby 2 1111.11x
Acton 1 7.81x
Bishopthorpe 1 238.10x
Canwell 1 3333.33x
Darlington 1 3.98x
Dringhouses 1 285.71x
Helston 1 38.91x
Kirby Under Dale 1 454.55x
Laverton 1 434.78x
Linthorpe 1 7.74x
Melmerby In Ripon 1 434.78x
Milby 1 1666.67x
Morley 1 8.88x
Myton On Swale 1 714.29x
North Leith 1 7.38x
Paddington London 1 1.24x
Pocklington 1 49.02x
Salford 1 1.31x
Sinderby 1 1111.11x
South Carlton 1 769.23x
St Anthony In Meneage 1 625.00x
Well 1 416.67x
West Stamford Bridge W 1 909.09x
Wortley In Bramley 1 5.83x
York Holy Trinity 1 53.48x
York St Sampson 1 217.39x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 18
Ann 10
Elizabeth 10
Hannah 6
Jane 6
Sarah 4
Edith 3
Emily 3
Charlotte 2
Diana 2
Eliza 2
Ellen 2
Emma 2
Fanny 2
Florence 2
Loveday 2
Margret 2
Martha 2
Ada 1
Alberta 1
Alice 1
Amelia 1
Anice 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Clara 1
Eleanor 1
Elizth.Ann 1
Ellis 1
Esther 1
Frances 1
Francis 1
Harriet 1
Isabella 1
Lizzie 1
Louisa 1
Luie 1
Lyda 1
Margaret 1
Maria 1
Olivia 1
Pheobe 1
Rebecca 1
Rose 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 25
John 18
George 13
Thomas 8
James 6
Richard 5
Arthur 4
Joseph 4
Albert 2
Charles 2
Edward 2
Edwin 2
Henry 2
Robert 2
Alexander 1
Christopher 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Frederich 1
Fredk. 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Joshua 1
Nathanial 1
Phillip 1
Richd. 1
Rupert 1
Thos. 1
Willis 1

FAQ

Exelby surname: questions and answers

How common was the Exelby surname in 1881?

In 1881, 224 people were recorded with the Exelby surname. That placed it at #11,970 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Exelby surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 289 in 2016. That gives Exelby a modern rank of #15,137.

What does the Exelby surname mean?

A locational surname derived from the village of Exelby in Yorkshire, England.

What does the Exelby map show?

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