NameCensus.

UK surname

Hagley

An English surname from a place name referring to a lea or clearing frequented by hags or witches.

In the 1881 census there were 299 people recorded with the Hagley surname, ranking it #9,740 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 297, ranked #14,839, down from #9,740 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Nunney, Washfield and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Walsall, Wychavon and Mid Devon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hagley is 350 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 0.7%.

1881 census count

299

Ranked #9,740

Modern count

297

2016, ranked #14,839

Peak year

1911

350 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hagley had 299 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,740 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 297 in 2016, ranked #14,839.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 350 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Hagley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hagley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hagley 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 198 #10,483
1861 historical 214 #11,365
1881 historical 299 #9,740
1891 historical 277 #11,784
1901 historical 319 #11,166
1911 historical 350 #10,262
1997 modern 316 #13,080
1998 modern 331 #13,018
1999 modern 340 #12,870
2000 modern 329 #13,090
2001 modern 325 #13,030
2002 modern 326 #13,241
2003 modern 315 #13,384
2004 modern 319 #13,342
2005 modern 292 #14,072
2006 modern 288 #14,267
2007 modern 291 #14,347
2008 modern 283 #14,724
2009 modern 288 #14,838
2010 modern 304 #14,591
2011 modern 302 #14,535
2012 modern 303 #14,415
2013 modern 305 #14,577
2014 modern 303 #14,733
2015 modern 296 #14,893
2016 modern 297 #14,839

Geography

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Where Hagleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Nunney, Washfield, London parishes, Lambeth and St Mary Newington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Walsall, Wychavon, Mid Devon and Epsom and Ewell. 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 Nunney Somerset
2 Washfield Devon
3 London parishes London 3
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 St Mary Newington London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Walsall 016 Walsall
2 Wychavon 019 Wychavon
3 Mid Devon 004 Mid Devon
4 Mid Devon 002 Mid Devon
5 Epsom and Ewell 003 Epsom and Ewell

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hagley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hagley

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

Hagley is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Hagley

The surname Hagley has its origins in England, and it is thought to have derived from the place name Hagley, a town located in the West Midlands region. The name is believed to have originated during the Anglo-Saxon period, and its meaning is related to the Old English words "haga," meaning "enclosure," and "leah," meaning "woodland clearing."

The earliest known recorded instance of the surname Hagley can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Hagelei." This historical record suggests that the name was already established in England by the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066.

During the medieval period, the surname Hagley was predominantly found in the West Midlands region, particularly in the counties of Worcestershire and Staffordshire. Several historical records from this time period mention individuals bearing this surname, including a John de Hagley who was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire in 1199.

One notable figure associated with the surname Hagley was Sir John Hagley (c. 1465-1526), a prominent English merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers in London. He was involved in the wool trade and served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1520.

Another significant individual was Richard Hagley (1575-1644), an English clergyman who served as the Bishop of Derry and Raphoe in Ireland from 1628 until his death. He was known for his efforts in promoting education and establishing schools in his diocese.

In the 18th century, the surname Hagley gained further recognition through the work of George Lyttelton, 1st Baron Lyttelton (1709-1773), an English politician, patron of the arts, and writer. His country estate was named Hagley Hall, located in the village of Hagley in Worcestershire, which further solidified the connection between the surname and the place name.

Sir John Hagley (1798-1876) was a notable British industrialist and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Worcestershire. He was also involved in the development of the railways and played a role in the construction of the Birmingham and Gloucester Railway.

Although the surname Hagley is not as common today, it has a rich historical lineage that can be traced back to its Anglo-Saxon roots in the West Midlands region of England, where it originated from the place name Hagley and its association with woodland enclosures.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hagley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hagley 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 86 Hagleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.16x.

County Total Index
Devon 86 14.16x
Somerset 69 14.70x
Middlesex 46 1.58x
Surrey 23 1.62x
Yorkshire 20 0.69x
Lancashire 19 0.55x
Hertfordshire 11 5.47x
Worcestershire 7 1.84x
Staffordshire 5 0.51x
Warwickshire 4 0.54x
Dorset 3 1.57x
Glamorgan 2 0.39x
Berkshire 1 0.46x
Essex 1 0.17x
Northumberland 1 0.23x
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. Tiverton in Devon leads with 24 Hagleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 229.45x.

Place Total Index
Tiverton 24 229.45x
Nunney 18 1764.71x
Washfield 15 3750.00x
Lambeth 12 4.72x
Watford 11 70.56x
Withycombe 11 3928.57x
St George In East London 9 32.81x
Uplowman 9 2250.00x
Battersea 8 7.45x
Bedminster 8 18.13x
Bethnal Green London 8 6.31x
Bradninch 8 467.84x
Frome 8 71.24x
Clevedon 7 143.44x
Manningham 7 19.66x
Walmersley Cum 7 126.58x
Wellington 7 109.89x
Barnstaple 6 62.96x
St Luke London 6 12.83x
Stoke Newington London 6 26.41x
Everton 5 4.53x
Exeter St David 5 96.34x
Horninglow 5 107.76x
Stoodleigh 5 1136.36x
Dodderhill 4 246.91x
Exeter St Thomas The 4 64.62x
Luxborough 4 952.38x
Mile End Old Town London 4 6.44x
Shoreditch London 4 3.16x
Skipton 4 43.96x
Aston 3 1.48x
Lye 3 47.32x
Westminster St James 3 10.01x
Yatton 3 163.93x
York St Giles In 3 110.29x
Bathwick 2 38.46x
Bury 2 5.06x
Great Torrington 2 58.14x
Manchester 2 1.29x
Melcombe Regis 2 25.22x
Neath 2 19.36x
Southwark St George Martyr 2 3.41x
St Botolph Aldgate London 2 33.28x
Thirsk 2 60.06x
Whitley 2 487.80x
Witheridge 2 196.08x
Wolborough 2 26.08x
Bromley London 1 1.56x
Burstwick With 1 238.10x
Clapham 1 2.74x
Coventry St Michael 1 4.23x
East Bedfont 1 68.97x
Exeter Holy Trinity 1 42.02x
Exton 1 250.00x
Fulham London 1 2.36x
Gillingham 1 30.40x
Hackney London 1 0.61x
Halberton 1 70.92x
Heytesbury 1 106.38x
Kentisbeare 1 119.05x
Newsham With 1 476.19x
Reddish 1 20.96x
Salford 1 0.98x
Stoke Damerel 1 2.35x
Wallingford All Hallows 1 588.24x
Wallsend 1 7.27x
West Ham 1 0.79x
Widnes 1 4.01x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

FAQ

Hagley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hagley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 299 people were recorded with the Hagley surname. That placed it at #9,740 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hagley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 297 in 2016. That gives Hagley a modern rank of #14,839.

What does the Hagley surname mean?

An English surname from a place name referring to a lea or clearing frequented by hags or witches.

What does the Hagley map show?

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