UK surname
A locational surname derived from a place name in England.
In the 1881 census there were 58 people recorded with the Fenley surname, ranking it #25,428 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 64, ranked #34,098, down from #25,428 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Rugby, Sedgley and St Leonard Shoreditch. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fenley is 104 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 10.3%.
1881 census count
58
Ranked #25,428
Modern count
64
2016, ranked #34,098
Peak year
1861
104 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Fenley surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Fenley 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 | 65 | #21,747 |
| 1861 | historical | 104 | #20,477 |
| 1881 | historical | 58 | #25,428 |
| 1891 | historical | 92 | #25,109 |
| 1901 | historical | 97 | #23,227 |
| 1911 | historical | 67 | #26,152 |
| 1997 | modern | 71 | #30,521 |
| 1998 | modern | 71 | #30,869 |
| 1999 | modern | 75 | #30,661 |
| 2000 | modern | 67 | #31,473 |
| 2001 | modern | 69 | #31,098 |
| 2002 | modern | 67 | #31,723 |
| 2003 | modern | 63 | #32,152 |
| 2004 | modern | 58 | #32,880 |
| 2005 | modern | 64 | #32,482 |
| 2006 | modern | 62 | #33,043 |
| 2007 | modern | 66 | #32,948 |
| 2008 | modern | 74 | #32,460 |
| 2009 | modern | 82 | #32,048 |
| 2010 | modern | 79 | #32,759 |
| 2011 | modern | 68 | #33,613 |
| 2012 | modern | 68 | #33,763 |
| 2013 | modern | 68 | #33,877 |
| 2014 | modern | 67 | #33,959 |
| 2015 | modern | 67 | #33,911 |
| 2016 | modern | 64 | #34,098 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Rugby, Sedgley, St Leonard Shoreditch, London parishes and Burslem. 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 | Rugby | Warwickshire |
| 2 | Sedgley | Staffordshire |
| 3 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 4 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 5 | Burslem | Staffordshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Fenley 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 Fenley, 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 Fenley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Fenley 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, Fenley 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 Fenley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Fenley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Fenley is believed to have originated in England, dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English words "fen" meaning a marsh or a bog, and "ley" meaning a meadow or a clearing. This suggests that the name was initially associated with someone who lived near a marshy area or a clearing surrounded by wetlands.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Fenley can be found in various medieval records and documents, such as the Pipe Rolls of Wiltshire from 1195, where the name appears as "Fenlegh". Other similar spellings from that time period include "Fenleigh" and "Fenlye".
In the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landowners and properties in England compiled in 1086, there are references to places with names similar to Fenley, such as "Fenelega" in Oxfordshire and "Fenleche" in Worcestershire, which may have been the original locations associated with the surname.
One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Fenley was Sir John Fenley, a knight who fought in the Battle of Agincourt in 1415 during the Hundred Years' War between England and France. Another notable figure was William Fenley (c. 1460-1525), a merchant and alderman in the city of London during the reign of King Henry VIII.
In the 16th century, there are records of a family named Fenley residing in the village of Weston-under-Wetherley in Warwickshire. This may have been the ancestral home of the Fenley family, as the name is likely derived from the nearby Fenny Compton, a village situated in a marshy area.
Other notable individuals with the surname Fenley include: 1. Robert Fenley (1603-1670), an English clergyman and author of religious texts. 2. Elizabeth Fenley (1720-1795), a philanthropist and founder of the Fenley Orphanage in Bristol. 3. James Fenley (1789-1862), a British explorer and naturalist who traveled extensively in South America. 4. Henry Fenley (1836-1911), an English architect known for designing several notable churches and public buildings in London. 5. Mary Fenley (1867-1945), a British suffragette and activist for women's rights.
While the surname Fenley is not among the most common in England, it has a rich history rooted in the country's rural landscapes and the lives of individuals who have left their mark in various fields over the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fenley 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. Middlesex leads with 27 Fenleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.77x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 27 | 4.77x |
| Dorset | 6 | 16.16x |
| Kent | 6 | 3.11x |
| Surrey | 4 | 1.45x |
| Lancashire | 3 | 0.45x |
| Warwickshire | 3 | 2.10x |
| Yorkshire | 3 | 0.54x |
| Cheshire | 2 | 1.60x |
| Staffordshire | 2 | 1.05x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 1.13x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.86x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 11 Fenleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.07x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Islington London | 11 | 20.07x |
| Shoreditch London | 6 | 24.47x |
| Woolwich | 6 | 84.15x |
| Wimborne Minster | 5 | 833.33x |
| Kensington London | 4 | 12.72x |
| Kingston On Thames | 3 | 45.32x |
| Rugby | 3 | 155.44x |
| Sheffield | 3 | 16.82x |
| Bethnal Green London | 2 | 8.14x |
| Birkenhead | 2 | 20.10x |
| Kingswinford | 2 | 28.86x |
| Chesterfield | 1 | 30.12x |
| Farnborough | 1 | 81.97x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 2.45x |
| Manchester | 1 | 3.31x |
| Melcombe Regis | 1 | 64.94x |
| Mile End Old Town London | 1 | 8.31x |
| Penge | 1 | 27.70x |
| St George In East London | 1 | 18.80x |
| Towerof London London | 1 | 555.56x |
| Westminster St John | 1 | 14.51x |
| Widnes | 1 | 20.66x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Fenley 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 Fenley 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 Fenley households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 7 |
| Bricklayer | 2 |
| Laundress | 2 |
| Shoemaker | 2 |
| Alkali Worker (Manuf) | 1 |
| Annuitant | 1 |
| Bank Manager | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Cook Domestic Serv | 1 |
| Dom Serv | 1 |
| Domestic Serv | 1 |
| Gardener | 1 |
| General Carman | 1 |
| Genr Labr | 1 |
| Glass Cutter | 1 |
| Gold & Silver Plater (Smith) | 1 |
| Hawker | 1 |
| Labr | 1 |
| Navey | 1 |
| Private | 1 |
| Railway Porter | 1 |
| Railway Shipper | 1 |
| Soldier 6th Regiment | 1 |
| Watch Maker (Finisher) | 1 |
| Wood Sawyer | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 58 people were recorded with the Fenley surname. That placed it at #25,428 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 64 in 2016. That gives Fenley a modern rank of #34,098.
A locational surname derived from a place name in England.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Fenley 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.