NameCensus.

UK surname

Greasley

In the 1881 census there were 709 people recorded with the Greasley surname, ranking it #5,124 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,127, ranked #5,232, down from #5,124 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Stapleford, Belgrave and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ashfield, Melton and Torfaen.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Greasley is 1,236 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 59.0%.

1881 census count

709

Ranked #5,124

Modern count

1,127

2016, ranked #5,232

Peak year

1998

1,236 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Greasley had 709 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,124 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,127 in 2016, ranked #5,232.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,099 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Greasley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Greasley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Greasley 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 467 #5,314
1861 historical 386 #6,638
1881 historical 709 #5,124
1891 historical 718 #5,493
1901 historical 939 #4,979
1911 historical 1,099 #4,224
1997 modern 1,198 #4,717
1998 modern 1,236 #4,760
1999 modern 1,226 #4,826
2000 modern 1,235 #4,784
2001 modern 1,207 #4,779
2002 modern 1,209 #4,872
2003 modern 1,174 #4,895
2004 modern 1,177 #4,890
2005 modern 1,152 #4,936
2006 modern 1,133 #5,002
2007 modern 1,151 #4,979
2008 modern 1,152 #5,009
2009 modern 1,175 #5,028
2010 modern 1,214 #4,991
2011 modern 1,202 #4,969
2012 modern 1,177 #4,988
2013 modern 1,180 #5,068
2014 modern 1,186 #5,076
2015 modern 1,159 #5,119
2016 modern 1,127 #5,232

Geography

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Where Greasleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Stapleford, Belgrave, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Nottingham St Mary and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ashfield, Melton, Torfaen and Harborough. 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 Stapleford Derbyshire
2 Belgrave Leicestershire
3 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
4 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire
5 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ashfield 007 Ashfield
2 Melton 001 Melton
3 Ashfield 004 Ashfield
4 Torfaen 001 Torfaen
5 Harborough 011 Harborough

Forenames

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First names often paired with Greasley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Greasley

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Greasley is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Greasley is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Greasley falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

1881 census detail

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Greasley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Greasley 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. Leicestershire leads with 244 Greasleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.86x.

County Total Index
Leicestershire 244 31.86x
Nottinghamshire 102 10.96x
Yorkshire 86 1.26x
Derbyshire 82 7.58x
Lancashire 48 0.59x
Warwickshire 33 1.89x
Middlesex 28 0.41x
Lincolnshire 18 1.63x
Denbighshire 15 5.75x
Staffordshire 13 0.56x
Cheshire 8 0.52x
Monmouthshire 8 1.60x
Devon 7 0.49x
Shropshire 7 1.17x
Midlothian 3 0.32x
Kent 2 0.08x
Flintshire 1 0.54x
Northamptonshire 1 0.15x
Suffolk 1 0.12x
Worcestershire 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leicester St Margaret in Leicestershire leads with 31 Greasleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.60x.

Place Total Index
Leicester St Margaret 31 16.60x
Nottingham St Mary 31 12.87x
Stapleford 25 330.69x
Alfreton 22 66.97x
Birmingham 18 3.10x
Birstall 18 1551.72x
Leicester St Mary 18 29.09x
Chirk 15 291.83x
Leicester All Sts 15 99.73x
Leicester Black Friars 12 240.96x
Brightside Bierlow 11 8.19x
Packington 11 402.93x
Ockbrook 10 217.86x
Swinton In Rotherham 10 55.25x
Beeston 9 84.11x
Lenton 9 41.04x
Marske In Guisbrough 9 74.07x
Old Malton 9 209.30x
Ratby 9 234.38x
Sileby 9 186.34x
Thringstone 9 307.17x
Twyford 9 891.09x
Accrington 8 10.74x
Aston 8 1.67x
Barlestone 8 479.04x
Bury 8 8.55x
Holy Trinity 8 4.86x
Wallasey 8 154.14x
Barkby 7 469.80x
Bitchfield 7 1794.87x
Derby All Sts 7 77.52x
East Stonehouse 7 24.72x
Heanor 7 43.29x
Leeds 7 1.81x
Leicester Newarke 7 175.44x
Melton Mowbray Freeby 7 2258.06x
Oswestry Rural 7 76.59x
Sculcoates 7 6.45x
Trevethin 7 14.85x
Billesdon 6 303.03x
Cromford 6 236.22x
Heaton Norris 6 12.86x
Hugglescote 6 53.29x
Loughborough 6 17.27x
Mayfield 6 205.48x
St George In East London 6 9.24x
Weston On Trent 6 869.57x
Woodhouse 6 197.37x
Betton 5 909.09x
Brinklow 5 270.27x
Chelsea London 5 2.40x
Colsterworth 5 213.68x
Foremark 5 3571.43x
Hammersmith London 5 2.94x
Ibstock 5 89.77x
Melton Mowbray 5 36.31x
Ratcliffe London 5 13.11x
St Mary 5 109.41x
Toxteth Park 5 1.80x
Whatton 5 746.27x
Worsley 5 9.90x
Arnold 4 29.43x
Barugh 4 69.20x
Blackwell 4 75.33x
Breedon On The Hill 4 173.16x
Falsgrave 4 39.64x
Gringley On Hill 4 203.05x
Litchurch 4 9.19x
Sandiacre 4 103.63x
West Derby 4 1.67x
Wombwell 4 20.04x
Bulwell 3 14.82x
Edinburgh St Andrews 3 39.27x
Horninglow 3 27.32x
Manchester 3 0.81x
Newtown Linford 3 263.16x
Oswaldtwistle 3 10.36x
Selston 3 28.85x
Walsall Foreign 3 2.49x
Wigston Magna 3 29.53x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 54
Elizabeth 41
Sarah 26
Ann 16
Emma 12
Hannah 8
Charlotte 7
Edith 7
Emily 7
Fanny 7
Harriet 7
Annie 6
Eliza 6
Martha 6
Ada 5
Alice 5
Ellen 5
Florence 5
Jane 5
Lucy 5
Ruth 5
Catherine 4
Kate 4
Louisa 4
Amelia 3
Amy 3
Frances 3
Rebecca 3
Sophia 3
Anne 2
Elizth. 2
Ethel 2
Florance 2
Francis 2
Gertrude 2
Isabella 2
Judith 2
Julia 2
Katherine 2
Lydia 2
Rose 2
Anastasia 1
Betsy 1
Blanche 1
Caroline 1
E.H. 1
Eleanor 1
Eliz. 1
Laura 1
Voilet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 54
William 49
George 34
Joseph 20
Charles 18
Thomas 17
Arthur 15
Henry 14
Samuel 14
James 13
Alfred 9
Edward 6
Francis 6
Frederick 6
Ernest 5
Peter 5
Robert 5
Albert 4
Edwin 4
Harry 4
Walter 4
Christopher 3
Geo. 3
Herbert 3
Jarvis 3
Philip 3
Thos. 3
Wm. 3
Benjamin 2
Fred 2
Fredrick 2
Lawrence 2
Mark 2
Moses 2
Richard 2
Willie 2
Earnest 1
Edmond 1
Edmund 1
Fredk. 1
Geo.Thomas 1
Greet 1
Hymm 1
Isaac 1
Kelham 1
Lenford 1
Levi 1
Lewis 1
Ralph 1
Wm.E. 1

FAQ

Greasley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Greasley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 709 people were recorded with the Greasley surname. That placed it at #5,124 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Greasley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,127 in 2016. That gives Greasley a modern rank of #5,232.

What does the Greasley map show?

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