NameCensus.

UK surname

Hailey

Derived from a place name meaning "hay clearing" or "hay wood" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 492 people recorded with the Hailey surname, ranking it #6,854 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 621, ranked #8,487, down from #6,854 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Amersham, London parishes and Great Horwood. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Hertfordshire, Suffolk Coastal and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hailey is 679 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 26.2%.

1881 census count

492

Ranked #6,854

Modern count

621

2016, ranked #8,487

Peak year

2000

679 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hailey had 492 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,854 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 621 in 2016, ranked #8,487.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 600 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Suburban Professionals.

Hailey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hailey surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Hailey 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 345 #6,823
1861 historical 499 #5,242
1881 historical 492 #6,854
1891 historical 535 #7,026
1901 historical 526 #7,760
1911 historical 600 #6,841
1997 modern 675 #7,452
1998 modern 676 #7,680
1999 modern 676 #7,718
2000 modern 679 #7,671
2001 modern 659 #7,714
2002 modern 674 #7,736
2003 modern 653 #7,809
2004 modern 651 #7,828
2005 modern 627 #7,994
2006 modern 637 #7,923
2007 modern 635 #8,022
2008 modern 633 #8,071
2009 modern 637 #8,196
2010 modern 654 #8,199
2011 modern 647 #8,183
2012 modern 638 #8,175
2013 modern 627 #8,440
2014 modern 631 #8,442
2015 modern 631 #8,389
2016 modern 621 #8,487

Geography

Back to top

Where Haileys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Amersham, London parishes, Great Horwood and St Marylebone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Hertfordshire, Suffolk Coastal, Cornwall and Watford. 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 Amersham Buckinghamshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Great Horwood Buckinghamshire
5 St Marylebone London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Hertfordshire 012 North Hertfordshire
2 Suffolk Coastal 003 Suffolk Coastal
3 Suffolk Coastal 004 Suffolk Coastal
4 Cornwall 046 Cornwall
5 Watford 003 Watford

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Hailey

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Hailey

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Suburban Professionals

Nationally, the Hailey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Suburban Professionals, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Hailey household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Employment in this Group is typically in managerial and professional occupations, and education to degree level is common. Residents are typically of working age, many of whom identify with an Indian ethnicity. Households are unlikely to be of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities, and English is not the main language used in some households. This Group is found on the outskirts of most conurbations as well as in the suburbs of some free-standing towns.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Hailey 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

Hailey is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hailey falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Hailey

The surname Hailey originated from the northern English region and has its roots in the Old English and Old Norse languages. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "hæg," meaning "hay," or the Old Norse word "heggr," meaning "hedge." Essentially, the name Hailey referred to someone who lived near a hayfield or a hedged enclosure.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Hailey can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appeared as "de Hagheley" in reference to a location in Worcestershire, England. This suggests that the name was initially a place name before being adopted as a surname.

In the 13th century, the name Hailey appeared in various forms, such as "de Hailey," "de Hayley," and "de Haylege," reflecting the different spellings and pronunciations of the time. One notable example is William de Hailey, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1202.

During the medieval period, the name Hailey was also associated with several place names, including Hailey in Oxfordshire, Hailey in Gloucestershire, and Haileybury in Hertfordshire. These locations likely contributed to the spread and popularization of the surname.

In the 16th century, the name Hailey gained recognition through individuals like John Hailey (1556-1610), an English lawyer and member of Parliament. Another notable figure was Thomas Hailey (1564-1634), a wealthy merchant and member of the Virginia Company, who played a significant role in the early colonization of Virginia.

The 17th century saw the emergence of notable Haileys, such as William Hailey (1597-1677), an English clergyman and author, and Edward Hailey (1630-1709), an English merchant and benefactor who helped establish the Haileybury School in Hertfordshire.

In the 18th century, the name Hailey continued to be prominent, with individuals like Edmond Hailey (1708-1784), a British writer and translator, and William Hailey (1744-1817), an English poet and playwright.

Throughout history, the surname Hailey has been carried by various individuals across different professions and backgrounds, reflecting its enduring presence in the English-speaking world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Hailey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hailey 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. Middlesex leads with 90 Haileys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.88x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 90 1.88x
Hertfordshire 78 23.63x
Buckinghamshire 63 21.76x
Hampshire 40 4.07x
Yorkshire 22 0.46x
Essex 19 2.01x
Lanarkshire 17 1.10x
Surrey 16 0.69x
Angus 11 2.48x
Berkshire 11 3.06x
Durham 11 0.77x
Kent 11 0.67x
Shropshire 10 2.42x
Sussex 10 1.24x
Ayrshire 9 2.51x
Staffordshire 9 0.56x
Glamorgan 8 0.96x
Suffolk 8 1.37x
Warwickshire 8 0.66x
Cornwall 7 1.29x
Bedfordshire 5 2.02x
Oxfordshire 5 1.69x
Renfrewshire 4 1.08x
Stirlingshire 4 2.26x
Worcestershire 4 0.64x
Cheshire 2 0.19x
Lancashire 2 0.04x
Channel Islands 1 0.70x
Devon 1 0.10x
Dorset 1 0.32x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.78x
Herefordshire 1 0.51x
Perthshire 1 0.47x
West Lothian 1 1.39x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hitchin in Hertfordshire leads with 64 Haileys recorded in 1881 and an index of 429.53x.

Place Total Index
Hitchin 64 429.53x
Christchurch 24 112.73x
Amersham 19 462.29x
St Pancras London 19 4.93x
St Marylebone London 16 6.26x
Newport Pagnell 12 198.35x
Dundee 11 6.64x
Witton Le Wear 11 272.28x
Great Horwood 10 854.70x
Dalry 9 53.35x
Wimbledon 9 34.35x
Aston 8 2.41x
Clare 8 286.74x
Leyton 8 49.11x
Roath 8 21.12x
Barony 7 1.79x
Brighton 7 4.30x
Great Missenden 7 196.08x
Portsea 7 3.64x
Chelsea London 6 4.16x
Church Stretton 6 215.83x
Hammersmith London 6 5.09x
Plumstead 6 11.02x
Shadwell London 6 44.78x
Tettenhall 6 60.73x
Walthamstow 6 17.63x
Wokingham 6 73.08x
Acton 5 17.81x
Bradford 5 4.35x
Chesham 5 46.86x
Dalziel 5 30.01x
Great Wymondley 5 1136.36x
Paddington London 5 2.84x
Compton 4 388.35x
Hanwell 4 47.11x
Little Kimble 4 1538.46x
Maidstone 4 8.22x
Oldbury 4 13.00x
Redruth 4 26.08x
Sopley 4 296.30x
St Anne Soho London 4 14.63x
Arlesey 3 95.85x
Hackney London 3 1.12x
Kensington London 3 1.13x
Kilsyth 3 26.64x
Middlesbrough 3 4.85x
Southampton St Mary 3 4.86x
Southwick 3 70.26x
St Luke London 3 3.91x
Abbey 2 3.53x
Bedford St Paul 2 11.76x
Bow London 2 3.28x
Codsall 2 86.96x
Govan 2 0.52x
Halifax 2 2.87x
Hatfield 2 29.90x
Hemel Hempstead 2 13.44x
Hornsey 2 3.30x
Horton In Bradford 2 2.70x
Kilbarchan 2 17.75x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 2 16.45x
Richmond 2 6.12x
Southwark St George Martyr 2 2.08x
St George Hanover Square 2 2.37x
Thame 2 37.17x
Watford 2 7.81x
Watlington 2 66.01x
West Ham 2 0.96x
Whitby 2 12.51x
Wistanstow 2 149.25x
Wolverton 2 33.39x
Abingdon St Helen 1 9.51x
Beddington 1 11.07x
Cuddington 1 111.11x
Exeter Holy Trinity 1 25.58x
Falkirk 1 2.42x
Great Marlow 1 12.79x
Kippax 1 23.98x
Penistone 1 27.03x
Walton On Hill 1 3.25x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 21
Elizabeth 13
Emma 11
Eliza 10
Ellen 10
Sarah 10
Alice 9
Annie 9
Ann 6
Emily 5
Jane 5
Kate 5
Martha 5
Ethel 4
Fanny 4
Florence 4
Frances 4
Hannah 4
Agnes 3
Caroline 3
Catherine 3
Esther 3
Louisa 3
Maria 3
Rose 3
Sophia 3
Charlotte 2
Clara 2
Harriet 2
Julia 2
Lizzie 2
Minnie 2
Selena 2
Selina 2
Susan 2
Violet 2
Albina 1
Amaris 1
Amy 1
Beatrice 1
Catharine 1
Emley 1
Evelyn 1
Georgiana 1
Isabella 1
Jannet 1
Jennette 1
Jessie 1
Laura 1
Leviny 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 25
John 18
George 17
Henry 17
Charles 16
Thomas 14
James 13
Alfred 10
Arthur 7
Joseph 7
Frederick 6
Harry 5
Albert 4
Patrick 4
Ernest 3
Richard 3
David 2
Edmund 2
Frank 2
Herbert 2
Isaac 2
Joshua 2
Robert 2
Rupert 2
Samuel 2
Walter 2
Claude 1
Daniel 1
Dobson 1
Edward 1
Edwd. 1
Edwin 1
Ephraim 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Fredk.T. 1
H.S. 1
Harrow 1
Jesse 1
Jno.E. 1
Joe 1
Joh 1
Malcolm 1
Mary 1
Melville 1
Nicholas 1
Percy 1
Reginald 1
Roger 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Hailey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hailey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 492 people were recorded with the Hailey surname. That placed it at #6,854 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hailey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 621 in 2016. That gives Hailey a modern rank of #8,487.

What does the Hailey surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "hay clearing" or "hay wood" in Old English.

What does the Hailey map show?

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