NameCensus.

UK surname

Furley

An English surname originating as a habitational name for someone from Farley.

In the 1881 census there were 297 people recorded with the Furley surname, ranking it #9,792 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 298, ranked #14,801, down from #9,792 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Llandyfodog, Minchinhampton and Nottingham St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kingston upon Hull, Stroud and Bridgend.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Furley is 471 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 0.3%.

1881 census count

297

Ranked #9,792

Modern count

298

2016, ranked #14,801

Peak year

1911

471 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Furley had 297 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,792 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 298 in 2016, ranked #14,801.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 471 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Furley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Furley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Furley 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 260 #8,512
1861 historical 329 #7,748
1881 historical 297 #9,792
1891 historical 406 #8,765
1901 historical 407 #9,374
1911 historical 471 #8,201
1997 modern 310 #13,241
1998 modern 332 #12,990
1999 modern 339 #12,892
2000 modern 313 #13,541
2001 modern 304 #13,619
2002 modern 315 #13,561
2003 modern 315 #13,384
2004 modern 312 #13,532
2005 modern 302 #13,788
2006 modern 308 #13,669
2007 modern 303 #13,965
2008 modern 300 #14,135
2009 modern 311 #14,069
2010 modern 308 #14,452
2011 modern 309 #14,322
2012 modern 310 #14,210
2013 modern 313 #14,299
2014 modern 308 #14,571
2015 modern 300 #14,758
2016 modern 298 #14,801

Geography

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Where Furleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Llandyfodog, Minchinhampton, Nottingham St Mary, St Mary Islington and Rodborough. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kingston upon Hull, Stroud and Bridgend. 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 Llandyfodog Glamorganshire
2 Minchinhampton Gloucestershire
3 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire
4 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)
5 Rodborough Gloucestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kingston upon Hull 021 Kingston upon Hull, City of
2 Stroud 009 Stroud
3 Bridgend 003 Bridgend
4 Stroud 007 Stroud
5 Kingston upon Hull 022 Kingston upon Hull, City of

Forenames

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First names often paired with Furley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Furley

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Furley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Furley household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Furley is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Furley is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Furley 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 Furley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Furley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Furley

The surname "FURLEY" is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, likely between the 12th and 15th centuries. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "furlang," which referred to a narrow strip of land or a furlong, a unit of measurement equal to one-eighth of a mile.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk in 1327, where a William Furley is mentioned. The name also appears in the Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire in 1401, suggesting its presence in different regions of England during that era.

The surname Furley has been associated with various place names in England, including Furley in Gloucestershire and Furley Green in Berkshire. It is possible that the name originated as a locational surname, referring to individuals who hailed from these areas or resided near fields or strips of land.

Historically, the name has been subject to various spelling variations, including Furley, Furly, Furlie, and Furleigh, reflecting the fluid nature of surname spellings during that period.

Among notable individuals bearing the surname Furley throughout history are:

1. Sir John Furley (c. 1537-1612), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire in the late 16th century.

2. Robert Furley (c. 1675-1753), an English merchant and philanthropist who was instrumental in establishing the Furley Charity, which provided educational opportunities for underprivileged children in London.

3. Benjamin Furley (1636-1714), an English Quaker and writer who was a prominent figure in the religious and intellectual circles of his time.

4. Samuel Furley (1767-1827), a British artist and engraver known for his landscape paintings and etchings.

5. William Furley (1827-1891), an English cricketer who played for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club in the mid-19th century.

While the surname Furley has roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora, with bearers of the name found in various countries and cultures.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Furley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Furley 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. Gloucestershire leads with 94 Furleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.38x.

County Total Index
Gloucestershire 94 16.38x
Middlesex 49 1.67x
Kent 47 4.71x
Yorkshire 26 0.90x
Sussex 15 3.04x
Nottinghamshire 14 3.55x
Lancashire 11 0.32x
Surrey 8 0.56x
Northamptonshire 6 2.18x
Huntingdonshire 5 8.61x
Rutland 5 23.27x
Channel Islands 4 4.61x
Worcestershire 4 1.05x
Durham 3 0.34x
Berkshire 2 0.91x
Somerset 2 0.42x
Glamorgan 1 0.20x
Hampshire 1 0.17x
Hertfordshire 1 0.50x
Monmouthshire 1 0.47x
Wiltshire 1 0.39x

Top districts and towns

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 23 Furleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.11x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 23 8.11x
Minchinhampton 22 481.40x
Painswick 15 369.46x
Stroud 14 125.34x
Ashford 13 133.74x
Hastings St Mary 10 81.43x
Herne 10 226.24x
Sheffield 10 10.83x
Canterbury St George 8 666.67x
Cheltenham 8 18.07x
Rodborough 8 288.81x
Camberwell 7 3.74x
Cottingham 7 112.00x
Liverpool 7 3.32x
Daventry 6 154.24x
Gloucester St John Baptist 6 161.73x
Manningham 6 16.80x
Bisley 5 96.15x
Halling 5 381.68x
Nottingham St Mary 5 4.90x
St Andrew Holborn London 5 39.46x
St Lawrence 5 72.89x
Avening 4 197.04x
Chorlton On Medlock 4 7.25x
Eynesbury 4 296.30x
Hammersmith London 4 5.55x
Hastings Holy Trinity 4 109.89x
Oakham Lordshold 4 177.78x
St Maryde Castro 4 187.79x
Canterbury St Paul 3 167.60x
Dudley 3 6.46x
Dursley 3 127.12x
Mile End Old Town London 3 4.82x
Nottingham Standard 3 297.03x
Stapleford 3 93.75x
Stockton On Tees 3 7.15x
Sutton Stoneferry 3 36.14x
Westbury On Trym 3 15.43x
Beckingham 2 444.44x
Bristol St James St Paul 2 10.45x
Chelsea London 2 2.27x
Clerkenwell London 2 2.90x
Deptford St Paul 2 2.60x
Paddington London 2 1.86x
Reading St Giles 2 9.28x
St George Bloomsbury 2 11.91x
Willesden 2 7.25x
Wotton Under Edge 2 59.17x
Cardiff St Mary 1 3.56x
Chiswick 1 6.25x
Edmonton 1 4.24x
Hackney London 1 0.61x
Hastings St Mary In The 1 9.50x
Huntingdon St Mary 1 68.97x
Llanellen 1 270.27x
Malmesbury St Paul 1 44.84x
Ramsgate 1 6.14x
South Hamlet 1 28.17x
St Clement Danes London 1 16.50x
St Swithin Winchester 1 625.00x
Standard Hill 1 106.38x
Streatham 1 4.61x
Uppingham 1 39.06x
Watford 1 6.39x
Westbury On Severn East 1 7.70x
Weston Super Mare 1 8.41x
Wookey 1 96.15x
Yardley 1 10.22x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 14
Elizabeth 13
Alice 12
Sarah 12
Ellen 7
Agnes 5
Ann 5
Eliza 5
Florence 5
Margaret 5
Edith 4
Julia 4
Annie 3
Caroline 3
Emily 3
Frances 3
Gertrude 3
Jane 3
Kate 3
Ada 2
Anne 2
Emma 2
Fanny 2
Helen 2
Lavinia 2
Maria 2
Mildred 2
Rose 2
Winifred 2
Anna 1
Bessie 1
Betrice 1
Betsy 1
Catherine 1
Edie 1
Edward 1
Eleanor 1
Elizh. 1
Elizth. 1
Ethel 1
Evealin 1
Gwendoline 1
Harriet 1
Hilda 1
Jessie 1
Levinia 1
Lillian 1
Lily 1
M.E.S. 1
Mabel 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 13
John 10
George 9
Henry 7
Arthur 5
Charles 5
Thomas 5
Walter 5
Alfred 4
James 4
Edward 3
Frank 3
Joseph 3
Richard 3
Robert 3
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
Frederick 2
Peter 2
Tom 2
Wm. 2
Amos 1
An 1
Chas. 1
David 1
Ebenezer 1
Edgar 1
Edmund 1
Francis 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
Geo.Fred. 1
Guy 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Henery 1
Hy.Chas. 1
Isaac 1
Julius 1
Kenneth 1
Leonard 1
Lewellyen 1
Lewin 1
Mathew 1
Oliver 1
Percy 1
Philip 1
Phillip 1
Reginald 1
Sampson 1

FAQ

Furley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Furley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 297 people were recorded with the Furley surname. That placed it at #9,792 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Furley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 298 in 2016. That gives Furley a modern rank of #14,801.

What does the Furley surname mean?

An English surname originating as a habitational name for someone from Farley.

What does the Furley map show?

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