UK surname
A surname derived from a place name containing the Old English elements "heort" meaning "deer" and "lēah" meaning "woodland clearing."
In the 1881 census there were 106 people recorded with the Heartley surname, ranking it #19,083 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4, ranked #38,419, down from #19,083 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Whitwell, St Bees and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Heartley is 234 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 96.2%.
1881 census count
106
Ranked #19,083
Modern count
4
2016, ranked #38,419
Peak year
1851
234 bearers
Map years
2
1851 to 1881
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Heartley surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Heartley 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 | 234 | #9,241 |
| 1861 | historical | 73 | #24,492 |
| 1881 | historical | 106 | #19,083 |
| 1891 | historical | 33 | #31,681 |
| 1901 | historical | 20 | #31,803 |
| 1911 | historical | 27 | #30,437 |
| 1997 | modern | 3 | #38,317 |
| 1999 | modern | 1 | #38,820 |
| 2000 | modern | 3 | #38,248 |
| 2001 | modern | 3 | #38,091 |
| 2002 | modern | 1 | #38,709 |
| 2004 | modern | 1 | #38,771 |
| 2005 | modern | 1 | #38,814 |
| 2006 | modern | 1 | #38,879 |
| 2007 | modern | 1 | #38,907 |
| 2008 | modern | 2 | #38,673 |
| 2009 | modern | 1 | #38,998 |
| 2010 | modern | 5 | #38,186 |
| 2011 | modern | 3 | #38,546 |
| 2012 | modern | 2 | #38,754 |
| 2013 | modern | 3 | #38,526 |
| 2014 | modern | 4 | #38,376 |
| 2015 | modern | 4 | #38,392 |
| 2016 | modern | 4 | #38,419 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Whitwell, St Bees, Manchester, Wakefield and Brotherton. 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 | Whitwell | Nottinghamshire |
| 2 | St Bees | Cumberland |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | Wakefield | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 5 | Brotherton | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Heartley 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 Heartley, 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 Heartley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Heartley 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, Heartley 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 Heartley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Heartley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Heartley is believed to have originated in England, possibly during the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational name, derived from a place name that incorporated the Old English words "heorot" meaning "hart" or "stag" and "leah" meaning "woodland" or "clearing." This suggests that the name likely referred to someone who lived near a woodland area where deer or stags were found.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Heartley can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the 13th century, where it appeared as "de Herteleye." This spelling variation indicates that the name may have been associated with a specific location called "Herteleye" or a similar place name.
In the 15th century, the surname appeared in various records as "Hartley" and "Hertley," reflecting the evolution of its spelling over time. During this period, the name was particularly prevalent in Yorkshire and Lancashire, where many families with this surname resided.
Notable individuals who bore the surname Heartley include John Heartley, a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of York in the late 16th century. Another notable figure was Sir Thomas Heartley, a member of the English gentry who served as a Member of Parliament for Yorkshire in the early 17th century.
In the 18th century, the surname appeared in the records of the parish of Ecclesfield in Yorkshire, where a family by the name of Heartley was well-established. One member of this family, William Heartley (1695-1778), was a respected landowner and local magistrate.
Another individual of note was Sir Robert Heartley (1754-1823), a British naval officer who distinguished himself during the Napoleonic Wars. He was knighted for his services and rose to the rank of Vice Admiral.
As the centuries passed, the Heartley surname continued to be found throughout various regions of England, particularly in the northern counties. While it may not have been among the most common surnames, it maintained a presence and contributed to the rich tapestry of English family names.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Heartley 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. Yorkshire leads with 47 Heartleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.59x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 47 | 4.59x |
| Lancashire | 27 | 2.20x |
| Derbyshire | 9 | 5.56x |
| Surrey | 8 | 1.59x |
| Cheshire | 4 | 1.75x |
| Durham | 3 | 0.98x |
| Cambridgeshire | 2 | 3.05x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.49x |
| Glamorgan | 1 | 0.56x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.47x |
| Nottinghamshire | 1 | 0.72x |
| Oxfordshire | 1 | 1.57x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.29x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe in Yorkshire leads with 15 Heartleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 315.13x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe | 15 | 315.13x |
| Brightside Bierlow | 11 | 54.75x |
| Preston | 11 | 33.52x |
| Bingley | 9 | 138.04x |
| Whitwell | 9 | 1406.25x |
| Wray With Botton | 9 | 4090.91x |
| Camberwell | 8 | 12.11x |
| Manchester | 5 | 9.06x |
| Haworth | 4 | 163.93x |
| Hyde | 4 | 59.44x |
| Sheffield | 4 | 12.26x |
| Chester Le Street | 3 | 127.12x |
| Cheveley | 2 | 909.09x |
| Huddersfield | 2 | 13.40x |
| Banbury | 1 | 78.13x |
| Chelmsford | 1 | 28.57x |
| Cuckney | 1 | 500.00x |
| Ecclesall Bierlow | 1 | 4.80x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 1.34x |
| Southampton St Mary | 1 | 7.50x |
| Stoke Upon Trent | 1 | 2.70x |
| Swansea Town | 1 | 6.78x |
| Tanshelf | 1 | 121.95x |
| Todmorden Walsden | 1 | 30.40x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Heartley 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 Heartley surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 106 people were recorded with the Heartley surname. That placed it at #19,083 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 4 in 2016. That gives Heartley a modern rank of #38,419.
A surname derived from a place name containing the Old English elements "heort" meaning "deer" and "lēah" meaning "woodland clearing."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Heartley 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.