UK surname
From an estate/district named Hart Lea, meaning a forest clearing where deer grazed.
In the 1881 census there were 238 people recorded with the Hartly surname, ranking it #11,476 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 15, ranked #37,092, down from #11,476 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Halifax and Paddington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hartly is 479 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 93.7%.
1881 census count
238
Ranked #11,476
Modern count
15
2016, ranked #37,092
Peak year
1861
479 bearers
Map years
6
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Hartly surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Hartly surname density by area, 1881 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 | 316 | #7,323 |
| 1861 | historical | 479 | #5,449 |
| 1881 | historical | 238 | #11,476 |
| 1891 | historical | 261 | #12,337 |
| 1901 | historical | 180 | #16,171 |
| 1911 | historical | 207 | #14,635 |
| 1997 | modern | 3 | #38,317 |
| 1998 | modern | 7 | #37,533 |
| 1999 | modern | 10 | #37,072 |
| 2000 | modern | 13 | #36,635 |
| 2001 | modern | 9 | #36,980 |
| 2002 | modern | 8 | #37,206 |
| 2003 | modern | 8 | #37,248 |
| 2004 | modern | 11 | #36,969 |
| 2005 | modern | 11 | #37,065 |
| 2006 | modern | 11 | #37,118 |
| 2007 | modern | 14 | #36,886 |
| 2008 | modern | 18 | #36,607 |
| 2009 | modern | 17 | #36,753 |
| 2010 | modern | 14 | #37,124 |
| 2011 | modern | 13 | #37,191 |
| 2012 | modern | 15 | #36,982 |
| 2013 | modern | 15 | #37,046 |
| 2014 | modern | 18 | #36,811 |
| 2015 | modern | 15 | #37,070 |
| 2016 | modern | 15 | #37,092 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Halifax, Paddington, Manchester and Glemsford. 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 | Rochdale | Lancashire |
| 2 | Halifax | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 3 | Paddington | London (West Districts) |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | Glemsford | Suffolk |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Hartly 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 Hartly, 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 Hartly surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Hartly 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, Hartly 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 Hartly is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Hartly, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Hartly is thought to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is believed to be a locational name derived from the Old English words 'hara' meaning 'hare' and 'leah' meaning 'meadow' or 'clearing'. This suggests that the name likely referred to someone who lived near a meadow or clearing frequented by hares.
The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the 13th century, with variations in spelling such as Hartlegh, Hartleye, and Hartlay. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was William de Hartley, who was mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Yorkshire in 1278.
In the 14th century, the name appeared in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex, where a John Hartley was listed in 1327. Around the same time, the name was also found in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Cambridgeshire, where a Robert Hartley was recorded in 1327.
During the 16th century, the name was associated with several notable individuals. One of them was John Hartley, who was a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of York. He served as Lord Mayor of York in 1551.
Another notable figure from this period was Miles Hartley, a renowned English mathematician and astronomer. He was born in Pembury, Kent, in 1592 and made significant contributions to the study of navigation and celestial mechanics.
In the 17th century, the name gained further prominence with the birth of David Hartley, a philosopher and psychologist, born in Armley, Yorkshire, in 1705. He is best known for his work on the association of ideas and his theory of human mind and consciousness.
Moving into the 18th century, one of the most famous bearers of the Hartly name was David Hartley, a British inventor and engineer. He was born in Aysgarth, Yorkshire, in 1729 and is credited with numerous inventions, including the world's first patent for a crank and lever safety valve for steam engines.
In the 19th century, the name was associated with Jesse Hartley, a prominent English potter and industrialist. He was born in Sunderland in 1834 and played a significant role in the development of the ceramics industry in the region.
Throughout its history, the surname Hartly has maintained a strong connection to its English roots, with many bearers of the name residing in various parts of the country. While the name has undergone some variations in spelling over the centuries, its core meaning and origins have remained largely unchanged.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hartly 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. Lancashire leads with 96 Hartlys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.50x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 96 | 3.50x |
| Yorkshire | 48 | 2.10x |
| Middlesex | 29 | 1.25x |
| Durham | 8 | 1.16x |
| Lanarkshire | 7 | 0.94x |
| Cheshire | 6 | 1.18x |
| Westmorland | 6 | 11.81x |
| Cumberland | 5 | 2.51x |
| Hampshire | 5 | 1.06x |
| Northumberland | 5 | 1.45x |
| Pembrokeshire | 3 | 4.08x |
| Somerset | 3 | 0.81x |
| Angus | 2 | 0.93x |
| Derbyshire | 2 | 0.55x |
| Wiltshire | 2 | 0.98x |
| Cambridgeshire | 1 | 0.68x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.22x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 0.63x |
| Leicestershire | 1 | 0.39x |
| Nottinghamshire | 1 | 0.32x |
| Renfrewshire | 1 | 0.56x |
| Shropshire | 1 | 0.50x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.13x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.09x |
| Sussex | 1 | 0.26x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Spotland in Lancashire leads with 14 Hartlys recorded in 1881 and an index of 45.90x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Hartly surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 21 |
| Elizabeth | 16 |
| Sarah | 7 |
| Martha | 6 |
| Eliza | 4 |
| Hannah | 4 |
| Alice | 3 |
| Ann | 3 |
| Ellen | 3 |
| Jane | 3 |
| Betty | 2 |
| Emily | 2 |
| Emma | 2 |
| Henrietta | 2 |
| Margaret | 2 |
| Nancy | 2 |
| Amelia | 1 |
| Anna | 1 |
| Annie | 1 |
| Bertha | 1 |
| Betsie | 1 |
| Betsy | 1 |
| Caroline | 1 |
| Catherine | 1 |
| Clara | 1 |
| Clare | 1 |
| Edith | 1 |
| Eleanor | 1 |
| Elizth. | 1 |
| Esther | 1 |
| Florence | 1 |
| George | 1 |
| Georgina | 1 |
| Grace | 1 |
| Isabella | 1 |
| Jessie | 1 |
| Kate | 1 |
| Maria | 1 |
| Marian | 1 |
| Pamela | 1 |
| Phoebe | 1 |
| Rachel | 1 |
| Razan | 1 |
| Rose | 1 |
| Susan | 1 |
| Susana | 1 |
| Susy | 1 |
| Tryphena | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Hartly surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| John | 18 |
| William | 13 |
| James | 9 |
| Thomas | 9 |
| Charles | 6 |
| Alfred | 5 |
| Robert | 5 |
| Enoch | 3 |
| George | 3 |
| Henry | 3 |
| Samuel | 3 |
| Benjamin | 2 |
| Christopher | 2 |
| Frank | 2 |
| Herbert | 2 |
| Isaac | 2 |
| Richard | 2 |
| Walter | 2 |
| Abraham | 1 |
| Edmun | 1 |
| Edwin | 1 |
| Harry | 1 |
| Howland | 1 |
| Ishmail | 1 |
| Jackson | 1 |
| Jesse | 1 |
| Joseph | 1 |
| Joshua | 1 |
| Moses | 1 |
| Nathan | 1 |
| Negas | 1 |
| Ralph | 1 |
| Reuben | 1 |
| Simion | 1 |
| Stephen | 1 |
| Tom | 1 |
| Wilkinson | 1 |
| Wm. | 1 |
| Wm.H. | 1 |
| Zachriah | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 238 people were recorded with the Hartly surname. That placed it at #11,476 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 15 in 2016. That gives Hartly a modern rank of #37,092.
From an estate/district named Hart Lea, meaning a forest clearing where deer grazed.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Hartly 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.