NameCensus.

UK surname

Flay

A surname derived from the Old French word meaning "to strip off the skin".

In the 1881 census there were 220 people recorded with the Flay surname, ranking it #12,087 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 511, ranked #9,834, up from #12,087 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Bedminster and Cullompton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bridgend, East Dorset and Bristol.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Flay is 554 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 132.3%.

1881 census count

220

Ranked #12,087

Modern count

511

2016, ranked #9,834

Peak year

2010

554 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Flay had 220 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,087 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 511 in 2016, ranked #9,834.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 352 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Flay surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Flay surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Flay 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 139 #13,659
1861 historical 207 #11,687
1881 historical 220 #12,087
1891 historical 271 #11,992
1901 historical 286 #12,029
1911 historical 352 #10,229
1997 modern 536 #8,837
1998 modern 518 #9,342
1999 modern 526 #9,295
2000 modern 524 #9,295
2001 modern 508 #9,344
2002 modern 522 #9,349
2003 modern 501 #9,471
2004 modern 510 #9,374
2005 modern 526 #9,109
2006 modern 518 #9,232
2007 modern 528 #9,174
2008 modern 536 #9,139
2009 modern 551 #9,155
2010 modern 554 #9,312
2011 modern 551 #9,251
2012 modern 524 #9,541
2013 modern 529 #9,619
2014 modern 523 #9,770
2015 modern 522 #9,710
2016 modern 511 #9,834

Geography

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Where Flays are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Bedminster, Cullompton, Bristol City: St Michael and Poole St James. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bridgend, East Dorset, Bristol and Poole. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Bedminster Somerset
3 Cullompton Devon
4 Bristol City: St Michael Gloucestershire
5 Poole St James Dorset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bridgend 001 Bridgend
2 East Dorset 004 East Dorset
3 Bristol 001 Bristol, City of
4 Poole 012 Poole
5 Bristol 046 Bristol, City of

Forenames

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First names often paired with Flay

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Flay

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Flay is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Flay is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Flay falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Flay

The surname FLAY is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, specifically in the counties of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. It is derived from the Old English word "flæge," which means "to strike" or "to flay." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to a profession or occupation, possibly a tanner or a person involved in the processing of animal hides.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name FLAY can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Flai." This entry is associated with a landowner or tenant in the village of Rowton, Shropshire. Another early reference is found in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire from 1199, which mentions a "Mathew Flay."

In the 13th century, the surname appears in various records, such as the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire (1273), where a "Richard Fley" is listed. The Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from 1301 also mention a "Thomas Flay." These variations in spelling, including "Fley" and "Flay," were common during this period due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions.

Notable individuals with the surname FLAY throughout history include:

1. John Flay (c. 1350 - 1420), a wealthy landowner and merchant from Lincolnshire, who served as a member of Parliament in 1399.

2. William Flay (c. 1520 - 1587), an English Protestant reformer and theologian who played a significant role in the English Reformation under King Edward VI.

3. Margaret Flay (c. 1580 - 1642), a midwife and herbalist from Yorkshire, known for her knowledge of traditional medicine and her involvement in the local community.

4. Thomas Flay (1639 - 1701), a renowned clockmaker and horologist from London, who was admitted to the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers in 1671.

5. Samuel Flay (1775 - 1848), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars and was commended for his bravery in several battles.

The surname FLAY can also be found in various place names across England, such as Flayborough and Flaymill, which may have derived their names from individuals or families bearing this surname in those locations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Flay families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Flay 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. Devon leads with 63 Flays recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.10x.

County Total Index
Devon 63 14.10x
Gloucestershire 51 12.12x
Wiltshire 41 21.60x
Somerset 27 7.82x
Middlesex 15 0.70x
Berkshire 7 4.35x
Lancashire 5 0.20x
Surrey 4 0.38x
Cheshire 2 0.42x
Hampshire 2 0.45x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.69x
Midlothian 1 0.35x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Calne in Wiltshire leads with 36 Flays recorded in 1881 and an index of 920.72x.

Place Total Index
Calne 36 920.72x
Bristol St George 17 87.31x
Bristol St Michael 14 387.81x
Bedminster 13 40.05x
Westbury On Trym 11 77.14x
Broad Clist 10 649.35x
Talaton 9 2647.06x
Exeter St David 7 183.25x
Hemyock 7 1044.78x
Rewe 7 3333.33x
Clist Hydon 6 3000.00x
Reading St Giles 6 37.97x
Clerkenwell London 5 9.87x
Collumpton 5 2380.95x
Twerton 5 140.45x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 4 10.09x
Gloucester Holy Trinity 4 1111.11x
Liverpool 4 2.59x
St Luke London 3 8.72x
Swindon 3 20.38x
Uffculme 3 225.56x
Wellington 3 64.10x
Wraxall 3 454.55x
Altrincham 2 24.15x
Highweek 2 125.79x
Kensington London 2 1.68x
Lyncombe Widcombe 2 22.12x
Nottingham St Mary 2 2.67x
Ottery St Mary 2 68.26x
Bermondsey 1 1.57x
Bradninch 1 79.37x
Cheetham 1 5.27x
Chippenham 1 25.13x
Chipping Sodbury 1 128.21x
Culmstock 1 158.73x
Devizes St James 1 39.68x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 0.86x
Egham 1 15.58x
Exeter St Sidwell 1 9.78x
Farway 1 476.19x
Fulham London 1 3.21x
Hackney London 1 0.83x
Islington London 1 0.48x
Lambeth 1 0.53x
Mortimer 1 129.87x
Portsmouth 1 9.87x
Romsey Extra 1 38.17x
St Martin In Fields 1 7.78x
St Marylebone London 1 0.87x
Streatham 1 6.28x
Taunton St James 1 19.84x
Wolborough 1 17.70x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 15
Elizabeth 12
Eliza 8
Emily 6
Sarah 5
Ellen 4
Kate 4
Fanny 3
Harriet 3
Louisa 3
Susan 3
Ada 2
Alice 2
Ann 2
Annie 2
Bessie 2
Emma 2
Florence 2
Hannah 2
Jane 2
Minnie 2
Abigail 1
Allice 1
Amelia 1
Anne 1
Anni 1
Arribella 1
Bessy 1
Caroline 1
Edith 1
Elley 1
Harriett 1
Hellen 1
Henriette 1
Hester 1
Isabella 1
Jessie 1
Judith 1
Kezia 1
Lidia 1
Lily 1
Louise 1
Lousia 1
Maria 1
Rose 1
Ruth 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 20
Henry 12
George 9
John 9
Thomas 7
Albert 6
Charles 6
Samuel 4
Alfred 3
James 3
Worthy 3
Isaac 2
Robert 2
Walter 2
A.L. 1
Daniel 1
Edward 1
Eearnest 1
Ernest 1
F. 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Fredrick 1
Harry 1
Henery 1
Herbert 1
Jas.Rd.Boucher 1
Josep.P. 1
Joseph 1
Leonard 1
Orchard 1
Tom 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Flay surname: questions and answers

How common was the Flay surname in 1881?

In 1881, 220 people were recorded with the Flay surname. That placed it at #12,087 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Flay surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 511 in 2016. That gives Flay a modern rank of #9,834.

What does the Flay surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old French word meaning "to strip off the skin".

What does the Flay map show?

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