UK surname
A surname derived from a place name containing the Old English elements "hana" and "leah", meaning "hen wood" or "grove of hens".
In the 1881 census there were 79 people recorded with the Hansley surname, ranking it #22,357 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 34, ranked #35,768, down from #22,357 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Hull Holy Trinity, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hansley is 355 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 57.0%.
1881 census count
79
Ranked #22,357
Modern count
34
2016, ranked #35,768
Peak year
1861
355 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Hansley surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Hansley surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 126 | #14,626 |
| 1861 | historical | 355 | #7,198 |
| 1881 | historical | 79 | #22,357 |
| 1891 | historical | 145 | #18,752 |
| 1901 | historical | 87 | #24,386 |
| 1911 | historical | 94 | #23,391 |
| 1997 | modern | 42 | #33,459 |
| 1998 | modern | 47 | #33,197 |
| 1999 | modern | 41 | #33,866 |
| 2000 | modern | 51 | #32,999 |
| 2001 | modern | 46 | #33,311 |
| 2002 | modern | 42 | #33,951 |
| 2003 | modern | 42 | #34,040 |
| 2004 | modern | 41 | #34,306 |
| 2005 | modern | 41 | #34,478 |
| 2006 | modern | 42 | #34,714 |
| 2007 | modern | 39 | #35,097 |
| 2008 | modern | 34 | #35,502 |
| 2009 | modern | 35 | #35,545 |
| 2010 | modern | 37 | #35,566 |
| 2011 | modern | 38 | #35,501 |
| 2012 | modern | 39 | #35,415 |
| 2013 | modern | 38 | #35,534 |
| 2014 | modern | 34 | #35,784 |
| 2015 | modern | 32 | #35,876 |
| 2016 | modern | 34 | #35,768 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Hull Holy Trinity, London parishes, St Pancras, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Heydon or Hedon. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hull Holy Trinity | Yorkshire, East Riding |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard | Nottinghamshire |
| 5 | Heydon or Hedon | Yorkshire, East Riding |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Hansley surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Hansley, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Hansley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Hansley household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Hansley is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Hansley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Hansley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname HANSLEY is of English origin, and it is thought to have emerged in the Middle Ages, around the 12th or 13th century. It is believed to be a locational surname, derived from a place name that referred to a clearing or open space in a wooded area.
One theory suggests that the name is derived from the Old English words "hana" (meaning rooster or cock) and "leah" (a clearing or meadow), potentially indicating that the name originated from a place where roosters or chickens were kept in a clearing or open space. Another theory proposes that it may be derived from the Old English personal name "Hana" combined with the word "leah," suggesting that it referred to a clearing belonging to a person named Hana.
While there are no definitive records of the earliest instances of the surname, it is likely that it first appeared in various medieval records and documents in areas where the original place name existed. The name may have been spelled slightly differently in these early records, with variations such as Hanneslegh, Hanslegh, or Hanneslea.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname is found in the Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire, dated 1327, where a Richard de Hanseley is mentioned. In the Chancery Proceedings of 1556, a John Hansley is listed as a resident of Gloucestershire.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals bearing the surname HANSLEY. Sir Thomas Hansley (1537-1607) was an English lawyer and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Robert Hansley (1604-1680) was a prominent Puritan minister and author in colonial New England. During the American Revolution, Captain James Hansley (1742-1825) served in the Continental Army and participated in several key battles.
In the 19th century, William Hansley (1823-1894) was a successful industrialist and entrepreneur in Birmingham, England, known for his innovations in metalworking. Mary Hansley (1865-1933), born in Ireland, was a pioneering advocate for women's rights and suffrage in the United States.
While the surname HANSLEY is not among the most common surnames today, it has a rich history and has been borne by individuals from various walks of life over the centuries, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and experiences of those who carried this name.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hansley surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lincolnshire leads with 21 Hansleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.27x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lincolnshire | 21 | 17.27x |
| Yorkshire | 18 | 2.39x |
| Middlesex | 9 | 1.18x |
| Surrey | 8 | 2.16x |
| Lancashire | 6 | 0.66x |
| Norfolk | 4 | 3.42x |
| Worcestershire | 4 | 4.03x |
| Durham | 2 | 0.88x |
| Sussex | 2 | 1.56x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 0.84x |
| Monmouthshire | 1 | 1.82x |
| Nottinghamshire | 1 | 0.98x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 0.52x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Scotter in Lincolnshire leads with 10 Hansleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3571.43x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Scotter | 10 | 3571.43x |
| St Pancras London | 8 | 13.07x |
| Barnes | 6 | 382.17x |
| Sculcoates | 6 | 50.21x |
| Holy Trinity | 5 | 27.58x |
| Wainfleet All Sts | 5 | 1428.57x |
| Watton | 4 | 1081.08x |
| Wigan | 4 | 31.72x |
| Batley | 3 | 41.90x |
| Webheath | 3 | 1666.67x |
| Camberwell | 2 | 4.12x |
| Firsby | 2 | 3333.33x |
| Newington | 2 | 96.15x |
| Ticehurst | 2 | 256.41x |
| Tunstall | 2 | 176.99x |
| Bicker | 1 | 526.32x |
| Branston | 1 | 270.27x |
| Chepstow | 1 | 106.38x |
| Derby St Werburgh | 1 | 14.53x |
| Feckenham | 1 | 87.72x |
| Halton Holegate | 1 | 769.23x |
| Hedon | 1 | 400.00x |
| Ipsley | 1 | 285.71x |
| Leake | 1 | 178.57x |
| Limehouse London | 1 | 11.98x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 1.82x |
| Nottingham St Mary | 1 | 3.77x |
| Patrington | 1 | 277.78x |
| Toxteth Park | 1 | 3.27x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Hansley surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Hansley surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Hansley households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 15 |
| Ag Laborer | 3 |
| Ag Lab | 2 |
| Coal Miner | 2 |
| Labeler Of Needles | 2 |
| Assistant | 1 |
| Builder Empg 8 Men | 1 |
| Butcher | 1 |
| Chair Maker | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Cook Dom Serv | 1 |
| Cooper | 1 |
| Cotton Mill Hand | 1 |
| Cotton Spinner | 1 |
| Farm Servant (Indoor) | 1 |
| Farm Servt.(Indoor) | 1 |
| Fish Hook Bender | 1 |
| Gen Lab | 1 |
| Gen Labourer | 1 |
| Grocer | 1 |
| Groom (Dom) | 1 |
| Groom (Dom) Wife | 1 |
| Groom Domestic | 1 |
| Jeweller | 1 |
| Laborer | 1 |
| Laborers Wife | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Lace Carder | 1 |
| Miners Wife | 1 |
| Needle Picker & ((...)) | 1 |
| Picture Frame Maker | 1 |
| Shoemaker | 1 |
| Silver Smith Improver | 1 |
| Waistcoat Maker | 1 |
| Wife | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 79 people were recorded with the Hansley surname. That placed it at #22,357 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 34 in 2016. That gives Hansley a modern rank of #35,768.
A surname derived from a place name containing the Old English elements "hana" and "leah", meaning "hen wood" or "grove of hens".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Hansley bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.