NameCensus.

UK surname

Ginley

An anglicized form of the Irish surname Mac an Ghaill, meaning "son of the stranger" or "foreigner".

In the 1881 census there were 66 people recorded with the Ginley surname, ranking it #24,256 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 210, ranked #18,965, up from #24,256 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bradford, Liverpool and Calderdale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ginley is 241 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 218.2%.

1881 census count

66

Ranked #24,256

Modern count

210

2016, ranked #18,965

Peak year

2010

241 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ginley had 66 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #24,256 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 210 in 2016, ranked #18,965.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 98 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Ginley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ginley surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ginley 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 22 #29,378
1861 historical 85 #22,922
1881 historical 66 #24,256
1891 historical 60 #29,204
1901 historical 85 #24,636
1911 historical 98 #22,959
1997 modern 193 #18,035
1998 modern 209 #17,650
1999 modern 202 #18,127
2000 modern 187 #18,990
2001 modern 183 #18,980
2002 modern 190 #18,889
2003 modern 200 #18,139
2004 modern 195 #18,500
2005 modern 195 #18,458
2006 modern 195 #18,564
2007 modern 200 #18,485
2008 modern 203 #18,470
2009 modern 200 #19,028
2010 modern 241 #17,186
2011 modern 214 #18,436
2012 modern 208 #18,720
2013 modern 209 #18,984
2014 modern 211 #19,002
2015 modern 206 #19,208
2016 modern 210 #18,965

Geography

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Where Ginleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bradford, Liverpool, Calderdale, Pendle and Blackburn with Darwen. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bradford 009 Bradford
2 Liverpool 017 Liverpool
3 Calderdale 027 Calderdale
4 Pendle 007 Pendle
5 Blackburn with Darwen 011 Blackburn with Darwen

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ginley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ginley

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Ginley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Ginley household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Ginley is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

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

Ginley is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Ginley

The surname Ginley originated in Ireland and is believed to have derived from the Irish Gaelic name Ó Ginnliath, which means "descendant of the grey-haired one." This name can be traced back to the 11th century in the western province of Connacht, particularly in counties Mayo and Sligo.

One of the earliest records of the Ginley name appears in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the 17th century. The name is mentioned in an entry from the year 1199, referring to a certain Muircheartach Ó Ginnliath who was involved in a local conflict.

By the 13th century, the Ginley family had established themselves as lords of the territory known as Muintir Ginnliath (meaning "people of the grey-haired one") in County Mayo. This area later became anglicized as the barony of Gallen.

The Ginley name also appears in various forms in ancient manuscripts and records, such as Gynlye, Gynley, and Gingley. Some of these variations may have been influenced by the spelling conventions of the time or by local dialects.

One notable figure bearing the Ginley name was Edmond Ginley (c. 1535-1601), a Catholic priest who served as the Archbishop of Tuam during the turbulent period of the Protestant Reformation in Ireland. He was a staunch defender of the Catholic faith and faced persecution for his beliefs.

Another prominent Ginley was Patrick Ginley (1781-1857), an Irish politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for County Mayo in the early 19th century. He was known for his advocacy of Catholic emancipation and his support for tenant rights.

In the 19th century, the Ginley surname also found its way to the United States through Irish immigration. One such individual was Michael Ginley (1820-1892), a merchant and philanthropist who settled in New York City and became a prominent member of the Irish-American community.

Bridget Ginley (1835-1905), born in County Mayo, was another notable figure who emigrated to America. She was a pioneer in the field of nursing and played a crucial role in establishing the first nursing school in New York City.

While the Ginley name has its roots in Ireland, it has since spread to various parts of the world, with descendants carrying on the legacy of this ancient surname through their various contributions and achievements.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ginley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ginley 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 25 Ginleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.27x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 25 3.27x
Yorkshire 18 2.82x
Lanarkshire 14 6.73x
Durham 6 3.13x
Nottinghamshire 2 2.31x
Northumberland 1 1.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 19 Ginleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 40.97x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 19 40.97x
York St Margaret 9 2250.00x
Barony 6 11.39x
Heworth 6 159.15x
Keighley 6 88.24x
Govan 5 9.71x
Glasgow 3 8.12x
Sherburn 3 576.92x
Greasley 2 102.04x
Spotland 2 23.56x
Briercliffe Cum 1 400.00x
Burnley 1 15.55x
Everton 1 4.11x
Morpeth 1 88.50x
Salford 1 4.45x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Bridget 6
Mary 5
Margaret 4
Annie 2
Maggie 2
Anna 1
Catherine 1
Julia 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Michael 6
James 4
Patrick 4
Thomas 4
John 3
Anthony 2
Alick 1
Edward 1
Martin 1
William 1
Willie 1
Wm. 1

Top occupations

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 Ginley households.

FAQ

Ginley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ginley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 66 people were recorded with the Ginley surname. That placed it at #24,256 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ginley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 210 in 2016. That gives Ginley a modern rank of #18,965.

What does the Ginley surname mean?

An anglicized form of the Irish surname Mac an Ghaill, meaning "son of the stranger" or "foreigner".

What does the Ginley map show?

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