NameCensus.

UK surname

Haley

From an English place name meaning "hay clearing," or a person who lived near or worked in one.

In the 1881 census there were 3,555 people recorded with the Haley surname, ranking it #1,270 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4,229, ranked #1,601, down from #1,270 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Birstall and Bradford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Copeland, Cornwall and Sunderland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Haley is 4,298 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 19.0%.

1881 census count

3,555

Ranked #1,270

Modern count

4,229

2016, ranked #1,601

Peak year

2014

4,298 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Haley had 3,555 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,270 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 4,229 in 2016, ranked #1,601.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,057 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Haley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Haley surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Haley 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 1,713 #1,686
1861 historical 2,415 #1,208
1881 historical 3,555 #1,270
1891 historical 3,674 #1,301
1901 historical 3,924 #1,438
1911 historical 4,057 #1,264
1997 modern 4,110 #1,577
1998 modern 4,250 #1,578
1999 modern 4,257 #1,590
2000 modern 4,265 #1,573
2001 modern 4,150 #1,579
2002 modern 4,250 #1,577
2003 modern 4,194 #1,571
2004 modern 4,191 #1,577
2005 modern 4,069 #1,600
2006 modern 4,035 #1,608
2007 modern 4,082 #1,607
2008 modern 4,058 #1,632
2009 modern 4,117 #1,653
2010 modern 4,236 #1,633
2011 modern 4,208 #1,620
2012 modern 4,187 #1,603
2013 modern 4,229 #1,616
2014 modern 4,298 #1,604
2015 modern 4,251 #1,604
2016 modern 4,229 #1,601

Geography

Back to top

Where Haleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Birstall, Bradford and West Ham,Wanstead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Copeland, Cornwall, Sunderland and Leeds. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Birstall Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
4 London parishes London 2
5 West Ham,Wanstead Essex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Copeland 004 Copeland
2 Cornwall 028 Cornwall
3 Sunderland 028 Sunderland
4 Leeds 095 Leeds
5 Sunderland 021 Sunderland

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Haley

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Haley

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Haley 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

Haley is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Haley 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 Haley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Haley

The surname Haley is of English origin, derived from a place name referring to a hayfield or meadow. It is believed to have originated in the early medieval period, around the 11th or 12th century.

The name is thought to stem from the Old English words 'haeg' meaning hedge or enclosure, and 'leah' meaning a clearing or meadow. It was common practice during this time for individuals to adopt surnames based on their place of residence or association with a particular location.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Haley can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as 'Halegh' in reference to a settlement in the county of Kent. This suggests that the name was already in use by the time of the Norman Conquest.

In the 13th century, records show variations of the name such as 'de Halegh' and 'atte Hale', indicating that it was still closely tied to specific localities. Over time, the spelling evolved into the modern form of 'Haley'.

Notable individuals with the surname Haley include Sir William Haley (c.1459-1516), an English landowner and Member of Parliament during the reign of Henry VIII. Another early bearer of the name was John Haley (c.1575-1654), an English Puritan minister and one of the founders of the town of Rowley, Massachusetts.

In the 18th century, William Haley (1741-1819) was a prominent English printer and publisher, while in the 19th century, John Haley (1828-1912) was an American Civil War veteran and recipient of the Medal of Honor.

More recently, the name has been associated with individuals such as the American author and journalist Alex Haley (1921-1992), best known for his novel 'Roots', and the English actor and comedian Brendan Haley (1932-2016).

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Haley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Haley 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. Yorkshire leads with 1,917 Haleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.56x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 1,917 5.56x
Middlesex 454 1.30x
Lancashire 175 0.42x
Surrey 151 0.89x
Cornwall 116 2.94x
Durham 108 1.04x
Cheshire 65 0.85x
Staffordshire 61 0.52x
Essex 46 0.67x
Lanarkshire 42 0.37x
Kent 37 0.31x
Northumberland 35 0.68x
Monmouthshire 34 1.35x
Worcestershire 33 0.73x
Oxfordshire 29 1.35x
Warwickshire 28 0.32x
Glamorgan 23 0.38x
Angus 19 0.59x
Cumberland 17 0.57x
Leicestershire 15 0.39x
Shropshire 13 0.43x
Channel Islands 12 1.16x
Derbyshire 12 0.22x
Somerset 11 0.20x
Devon 10 0.14x
Hampshire 10 0.14x
Hertfordshire 9 0.38x
Nottinghamshire 9 0.19x
Sussex 9 0.15x
Buckinghamshire 8 0.38x
Ayrshire 7 0.27x
Gloucestershire 7 0.10x
Midlothian 6 0.13x
Ross-shire 6 0.63x
Dunbartonshire 5 0.53x
Suffolk 5 0.12x
Lincolnshire 3 0.05x
Northamptonshire 3 0.09x
Stirlingshire 3 0.23x
Carmarthenshire 2 0.14x
Montgomeryshire 2 0.25x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.03x
Berkshire 1 0.04x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.07x
Caithness 1 0.21x
Denbighshire 1 0.08x
Flintshire 1 0.11x
Herefordshire 1 0.07x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.09x
Perthshire 1 0.06x
Renfrewshire 1 0.04x
Westmorland 1 0.13x
Wiltshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Horton In Bradford in Yorkshire leads with 160 Haleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.70x.

Place Total Index
Horton In Bradford 160 29.70x
Cleckheaton 158 124.32x
Leeds 143 7.34x
North Bierley 118 63.35x
Bradford 112 13.41x
Bramley In Bramley 74 56.03x
Gomersal 57 35.40x
Halifax 54 10.66x
Bowling 52 15.22x
Pudsey 51 27.66x
Tong 49 73.53x
Dewsbury 46 13.00x
Liversedge 42 27.35x
Batley 41 12.51x
Bermondsey 41 3.96x
Hunsworth 39 215.47x
St George In East London 39 11.91x
Northowram 38 15.71x
Sheffield 37 3.37x
St Pancras London 30 1.07x
West Ham 30 1.98x
Bethnal Green London 29 1.92x
Fulham London 29 5.74x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 26 20.75x
Brightside Bierlow 26 3.84x
Huddersfield 26 5.17x
Drighlington 25 49.74x
Manningham 25 5.88x
Mile End Old Town London 25 3.37x
Dukinfield 24 6.76x
Islington London 24 0.71x
St Woollos 24 8.54x
Southwark St George Martyr 23 3.28x
Morley 21 11.71x
Headingley Cum Burley 20 9.01x
Ratcliffe London 20 10.40x
Wakefield 20 7.55x
Brancepeth 19 100.96x
Bingley 18 8.19x
Camberwell 18 0.81x
Holbeck 17 7.44x
Lanreath 17 252.98x
Limehouse London 17 4.45x
Shoreditch London 17 1.13x
Birmingham 16 0.55x
Kensington London 16 0.83x
Liverpool 16 0.64x
Poplar London 16 2.44x
Shipley 16 8.94x
Chelsea London 15 1.43x
Hackney London 15 0.77x
St Marylebone London 15 0.81x
Bollington In 14 20.46x
Sowerby In Halifax 14 12.41x
St Clement 14 34.03x
St Pinnock 14 234.11x
Stoke Upon Trent 14 1.12x
Westminster St John 14 3.30x
Wortley In Bramley 14 5.12x
Hulme 13 1.51x
Mirfield 13 6.86x
Newington 13 1.01x
Shelf 13 39.45x
Sunderland 13 7.11x
Clerkenwell London 12 1.46x
Hamilton 12 3.82x
Idle 12 7.50x
Handsworth 11 3.80x
Heston 11 9.51x
Keighley 11 2.99x
Kidderminster Borough 11 4.13x
Lambeth 11 0.36x
Leicester St Margaret 11 1.17x
Merthyr Tydfil 11 1.89x
Ossett Cum Gawthorpe 11 8.93x
Ovenden 11 7.16x
Richmond 11 20.41x
Stockton On Tees 11 2.20x
Easington 10 66.53x
Rawmarsh 10 8.20x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 310
Sarah 141
Elizabeth 110
Ann 74
Annie 69
Ellen 56
Hannah 53
Jane 49
Margaret 48
Emma 46
Catherine 45
Eliza 45
Alice 37
Bridget 34
Martha 30
Clara 25
Emily 25
Ada 22
Harriet 19
Kate 19
Edith 18
Florence 18
Louisa 15
Caroline 14
Lucy 14
Rose 13
Charlotte 11
Fanny 11
Julia 10
Maria 10
Rebecca 10
Amelia 9
Anne 9
Agnes 8
Minnie 8
Susannah 8
Frances 7
Grace 7
Ruth 7
Betsy 6
Betty 6
Eleanor 6
Helen 6
Matilda 6
Nancy 6
Rachel 6
Rhoda 6
Selina 6
Isabella 5
Mabel 5

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 232
William 152
James 119
Thomas 117
Joseph 69
George 65
Charles 56
Henry 46
Michael 41
Patrick 41
Edward 38
Arthur 25
Robert 25
Samuel 25
Albert 23
Alfred 22
David 22
Harry 22
Walter 22
Isaac 19
Richard 18
Fred 15
Martin 15
Daniel 14
Frederick 14
Herbert 14
Sam 12
Tom 12
Edwin 11
Francis 11
Frank 11
Jeremiah 9
Peter 9
Benjamin 8
Dennis 8
Ernest 8
Joshua 8
Squire 8
Abraham 7
Thos. 7
Wm. 7
Ben 6
Emanuel 6
Nicholas 6
Stephen 6
Willie 6
Hugh 5
Mark 5
Owen 5
Timothy 5

FAQ

Haley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Haley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,555 people were recorded with the Haley surname. That placed it at #1,270 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Haley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 4,229 in 2016. That gives Haley a modern rank of #1,601.

What does the Haley surname mean?

From an English place name meaning "hay clearing," or a person who lived near or worked in one.

What does the Haley map show?

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