NameCensus.

UK surname

Flatley

A surname derived from a place name referring to a flat or level area.

In the 1881 census there were 141 people recorded with the Flatley surname, ranking it #16,091 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 488, ranked #10,156, up from #16,091 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Govan Combination and Toxteth Park. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, Manchester and Staffordshire Moorlands.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Flatley is 533 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 246.1%.

1881 census count

141

Ranked #16,091

Modern count

488

2016, ranked #10,156

Peak year

2011

533 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Flatley had 141 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,091 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 488 in 2016, ranked #10,156.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 289 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Flatley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Flatley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Flatley 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 46 #24,985
1861 historical 65 #25,618
1881 historical 141 #16,091
1891 historical 177 #16,330
1901 historical 289 #11,944
1911 historical 252 #12,834
1997 modern 472 #9,716
1998 modern 502 #9,562
1999 modern 504 #9,606
2000 modern 489 #9,788
2001 modern 494 #9,560
2002 modern 499 #9,648
2003 modern 481 #9,770
2004 modern 503 #9,480
2005 modern 486 #9,634
2006 modern 494 #9,569
2007 modern 503 #9,524
2008 modern 506 #9,548
2009 modern 507 #9,743
2010 modern 516 #9,808
2011 modern 533 #9,500
2012 modern 494 #9,959
2013 modern 506 #9,936
2014 modern 511 #9,927
2015 modern 503 #9,956
2016 modern 488 #10,156

Geography

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Where Flatleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Govan Combination, Toxteth Park, Knaresborough (Bilton and Harrogate, Scriven with Tentergate, Knaresborough), Pannall and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham, Manchester, Staffordshire Moorlands, Wigan and St. Helens. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Toxteth Park Lancashire
4 Knaresborough (Bilton and Harrogate, Scriven with Tentergate, Knaresborough), Pannall Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 026 County Durham
2 Manchester 034 Manchester
3 Staffordshire Moorlands 003 Staffordshire Moorlands
4 Wigan 016 Wigan
5 St. Helens 015 St. Helens

Forenames

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First names often paired with Flatley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Flatley

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Flatley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Flatley household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Flatley 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

Flatley is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Flatley 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 Flatley 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 Flatley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Flatley

The surname Flatley has its origins in England and dates back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "flæt," meaning "flat" or "level ground," and the suffix "-ley," which denotes a meadow or clearing. This suggests that the name likely referred to someone who lived near or owned a flat or level piece of land.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1190, where it appears as "Robertus de Flatteleia." This early spelling variation highlights the name's connection to a specific place.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various records, including the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1279, where it was written as "Flatele." The Hundred Rolls were a series of inquests conducted in England, providing valuable insights into the lives and landholdings of individuals during that time.

The Flatley surname can also be linked to several place names in England, such as Flatley in Derbyshire and Flatley Hill in Staffordshire. These place names may have contributed to the surname's development and spread across different regions.

One notable individual with the Flatley surname was John Flatley (born around 1524), who served as a Member of Parliament for Wigan, Lancashire, during the reign of Queen Mary I in the 16th century.

Another noteworthy figure was Sir Thomas Flatley (1589-1668), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Orford, Suffolk, during the reign of King Charles I.

In the 18th century, James Flatley (1724-1798) was an English merchant and landowner who made significant contributions to the development of trade and commerce in Liverpool.

Moving into the 19th century, Edward Flatley (1818-1887) was an Irish-born American politician who served as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives and the Massachusetts Senate.

Lastly, one of the most well-known individuals with the Flatley surname in recent times is Michael Flatley (born 1958), the renowned Irish-American dancer and choreographer best known for creating and starring in the popular dance shows "Riverdance" and "Lord of the Dance."

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Flatley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Flatley 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. Lancashire leads with 55 Flatleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.37x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 55 3.37x
Yorkshire 44 3.23x
Warwickshire 8 2.31x
Worcestershire 7 3.90x
Staffordshire 6 1.29x
Middlesex 5 0.36x
Lanarkshire 4 0.90x
Cheshire 3 0.99x
Durham 3 0.73x
Renfrewshire 3 2.81x
Hampshire 2 0.71x
Stirlingshire 1 1.97x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Knaresborough in Yorkshire leads with 15 Flatleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 700.93x.

Place Total Index
Knaresborough 15 700.93x
Aston 8 8.38x
Rishton 7 366.49x
Spotland 7 38.59x
Kidderminster Borough 6 57.09x
Preston 6 13.74x
Wolverhampton 6 16.81x
Barnsley 5 35.56x
Batley 5 38.61x
Bradford 5 65.45x
Selby 5 175.44x
Ardwick 4 27.17x
Manchester 4 5.45x
Bootle Cum Linacre 3 23.15x
Dewsbury 3 21.46x
Doncaster 3 30.12x
Govan 3 2.73x
Radcliffe 3 38.12x
Salford 3 6.25x
St Bartholomew Less 3 422.54x
Tonge 3 87.72x
West Greenock 3 15.68x
Leeds 2 2.60x
Liverpool 2 2.02x
Merrington 2 253.16x
Portsmouth 2 30.82x
Toxteth Park 2 3.62x
Westminster St James 2 14.14x
Aughton 1 61.73x
Bickerstaffe 1 93.46x
Blackburn 1 2.30x
Campsie 1 35.97x
Eastham 1 243.90x
Elvet 1 33.90x
Garston 1 20.75x
Gate Fulford 1 31.45x
Glasgow 1 1.27x
Haxby 1 384.62x
Keyingham 1 333.33x
Lower Mitton 1 63.29x
Newton By Frodsham 1 1666.67x
Normanby In 1 27.47x
Paull 1 384.62x
Scriven Cum Tentergate 1 196.08x
Tabley Superior 1 476.19x
Walton On Hill 1 11.31x
West Derby 1 2.09x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 13
Bridget 8
Margaret 7
Ellen 4
Agnes 2
Ann 2
Catharine 2
Catherine 2
Elizabeth 2
Maria 2
Alice 1
Anne 1
Bessey 1
Bridt. 1
Elizth. 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Hannah 1
Honoria 1
Jane 1
Julia 1
Sarah 1
Winifred 1
Winnefred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 17
William 10
Thomas 7
James 6
Michael 6
Patrick 6
Dominic 3
Richard 2
Thos. 2
Alfred 1
Bryan 1
Domonic 1
Edmund 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
George 1
Jno. 1
Martin 1
Michl. 1
Mitrel 1
Peter 1
Robert 1
Ronnie 1
Tom 1

FAQ

Flatley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Flatley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 141 people were recorded with the Flatley surname. That placed it at #16,091 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Flatley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 488 in 2016. That gives Flatley a modern rank of #10,156.

What does the Flatley surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name referring to a flat or level area.

What does the Flatley map show?

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