NameCensus.

UK surname

Heley

From an English place name meaning "high meadow" or "high clearing".

In the 1881 census there were 313 people recorded with the Heley surname, ranking it #9,436 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 327, ranked #13,868, down from #9,436 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Totternhoe and Stewkley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Doncaster and South Tyneside.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Heley is 430 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 4.5%.

1881 census count

313

Ranked #9,436

Modern count

327

2016, ranked #13,868

Peak year

1901

430 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Heley had 313 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,436 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 327 in 2016, ranked #13,868.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 430 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Heley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Heley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Heley 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 330 #7,062
1861 historical 405 #6,337
1881 historical 313 #9,436
1891 historical 339 #10,089
1901 historical 430 #9,000
1911 historical 425 #8,877
1997 modern 350 #12,172
1998 modern 358 #12,349
1999 modern 363 #12,290
2000 modern 381 #11,814
2001 modern 357 #12,205
2002 modern 383 #11,820
2003 modern 370 #11,919
2004 modern 363 #12,131
2005 modern 353 #12,292
2006 modern 355 #12,316
2007 modern 362 #12,271
2008 modern 357 #12,509
2009 modern 376 #12,290
2010 modern 377 #12,529
2011 modern 365 #12,694
2012 modern 349 #12,993
2013 modern 341 #13,425
2014 modern 341 #13,528
2015 modern 332 #13,705
2016 modern 327 #13,868

Geography

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Where Heleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Totternhoe, Stewkley, Luton and Ivinghoe, Cheddington, Slapton, Pitstone (Berkhampstead, Hertfordshire), Eddlesborough, Little Gadde. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Doncaster and South Tyneside. 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 1
2 Totternhoe Bedfordshire
3 Stewkley Buckinghamshire
4 Luton Bedfordshire
5 Ivinghoe, Cheddington, Slapton, Pitstone (Berkhampstead, Hertfordshire), Eddlesborough, Little Gadde Bedfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 014 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
2 Doncaster 004 Doncaster
3 Doncaster 006 Doncaster
4 Doncaster 037 Doncaster
5 South Tyneside 009 South Tyneside

Forenames

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First names often paired with Heley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Heley

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

Heley is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Heley falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Heley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Heley

The surname HELEY is believed to have originated in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational name derived from the Old English words "hæl," meaning "healthy" or "hale," and "ēa," meaning "river." This suggests that the name may have referred to someone who lived near a healthy or thriving river.

One of the earliest records of the name HELEY can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire from 1199, where it appears as "Helye." This early spelling variation provides insight into the name's evolution over time.

In the 13th century, the surname HELEY was also documented in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, indicating its presence in various regions of England during this period.

The HELEY surname has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One such figure was John Heley, a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of London during the 15th century. He played a significant role in the city's governance and trade during his lifetime.

Another notable bearer of the HELEY name was Sir William Heley, a member of the English gentry who lived in the 16th century. He was knighted for his services to the Crown and held lands in Hertfordshire.

In the 17th century, the name HELEY appeared in the records of the Parish of St. Mary the Virgin in Twickenham, Middlesex, where several members of the HELEY family were recorded as baptisms, marriages, and burials.

One of the earliest known instances of the HELEY surname in connection with a place name can be found in the village of Heleys Green, located in the parish of Wolverton, Warwickshire. This small hamlet likely derived its name from a family or individual bearing the HELEY surname who resided there.

Another notable HELEY was Sir Charles Heley, a British politician and Member of Parliament for Shaftesbury in the late 18th century. He was born in 1744 and played an active role in local and national politics during his lifetime.

Throughout its history, the HELEY surname has been associated with various locations and individuals across England, reflecting the name's enduring presence and significance within the country's cultural tapestry.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Heley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Heley 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. Buckinghamshire leads with 86 Heleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 46.74x.

County Total Index
Buckinghamshire 86 46.74x
Bedfordshire 64 40.61x
Middlesex 43 1.41x
Yorkshire 22 0.73x
Lancashire 14 0.39x
Staffordshire 12 1.17x
Derbyshire 9 1.89x
Durham 7 0.77x
Gloucestershire 7 1.17x
Lincolnshire 7 1.44x
Northumberland 6 1.33x
Midlothian 5 1.23x
Cheshire 4 0.60x
Glamorgan 4 0.75x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.98x
Suffolk 3 0.81x
Surrey 3 0.20x
Sussex 3 0.58x
Cumberland 2 0.76x
Hampshire 2 0.32x
Dorset 1 0.50x
Essex 1 0.17x
Herefordshire 1 0.80x
Kent 1 0.10x
Warwickshire 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Slapton in Buckinghamshire leads with 26 Heleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 9285.71x.

Place Total Index
Slapton 26 9285.71x
Ivinghoe 25 1736.11x
Leighton Buzzard 20 294.99x
Luton 18 65.98x
Wing 17 994.15x
Eaton Bray 11 691.82x
Stewkley 11 785.71x
Houghton Regis 10 398.41x
Bromley London 8 11.95x
Mirfield 8 48.31x
Amber Hill 7 1707.32x
Heckmondwike 7 72.16x
Newbold Dunston 7 154.53x
Rodmarton 7 1750.00x
Stafford St Mary 6 41.27x
Tottenham 6 12.38x
Willesden 6 20.91x
Dunstable 5 103.31x
Ealing 5 18.38x
Edinburgh Old Church 5 152.91x
Sheffield 5 5.21x
Walmersley Cum 5 86.66x
Aberdare 4 11.00x
Hammersmith London 4 5.34x
Newbottle 4 80.97x
Nottingham St Mary 4 3.77x
Over Darwen 4 13.86x
Brighton 3 2.90x
Burton Extra 3 50.93x
Gateshead 3 4.43x
Hackney London 3 1.76x
Hadleigh 3 83.33x
Kensington London 3 1.77x
Tweedmouth 3 53.10x
Berwick Upon Tweed 2 20.86x
Croydon 2 2.43x
Hesket In Forest 2 97.56x
Newport Pagnell 2 51.95x
Soulbury 2 408.16x
Sound 2 689.66x
St Pancras London 2 0.82x
Ashton Under Lyne 1 1.27x
Aughton 1 27.93x
Bere Regis 1 74.63x
Birkenhead 1 1.87x
Bow London 1 2.58x
Camberwell 1 0.51x
Cheddington 1 128.21x
Cheetham 1 3.71x
Chelmsford 1 9.70x
Christchurch 1 7.39x
Heanor 1 14.03x
Heathylee 1 227.27x
Hereford St Nicholas 1 58.82x
Horbury 1 18.94x
Hulme 1 1.33x
Lewisham 1 1.81x
Mile End Old Town London 1 1.54x
Odd Rode 1 30.03x
Penkridge 1 37.74x
Portsea 1 0.82x
St Luke London 1 2.05x
St Marylebone London 1 0.62x
Staveley 1 11.82x
Stone 1 69.93x
Sutton Coldfield 1 12.39x
Thornborough 1 166.67x
Tottington Lower End 1 5.83x
Uxbridge 1 28.74x
Wath On Dearne 1 16.61x
Whitechapel London 1 3.33x
Wolverhampton 1 1.27x
Wooler 1 62.89x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 22
Sarah 19
Elizabeth 14
Ann 9
Jane 7
Annie 6
Emma 6
Eliza 5
Ellen 5
Florence 5
Martha 5
Catherine 4
Emily 4
Kate 4
Alice 3
Elizth. 3
Hannah 3
Louisa 3
Susan 3
Anna 2
Harriett 2
Jessie 2
Louie 2
Lucy 2
Lydia 2
Margaret 2
Maria 2
Minnie 2
Rose 2
Caroline 1
Charlotte 1
Eleanor 1
Elenor 1
Fanny 1
Geneva 1
Harriet 1
Jemima 1
Jessica 1
Julia 1
Leonor 1
Lilly 1
Lizzie 1
Marryann 1
Maude 1
Mereitta 1
Milley 1
Phoebe 1
Rachael 1
Rachel 1
Ruth 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 20
George 12
John 9
Thomas 9
Charles 8
Albert 4
Alfred 4
Arthur 4
Ernest 4
Henry 4
Edward 3
Frederick 3
Joseph 3
Edwin 2
Jesse 2
Patrick 2
Philip 2
Robert 2
Thos. 2
Willm. 2
Abraham 1
Allan 1
Andrew 1
Aurther 1
Beniah 1
Dan 1
Edmund 1
Enoch 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Frdk.Chs. 1
Fred 1
Fred. 1
J. 1
Jabez 1
James 1
Jas.Hy. 1
Jephsonnah 1
Joe. 1
Lemuel 1
Mark 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Reuben 1
Richard 1
Rupert 1
Uriah 1
Walter 1
Wm.A.C. 1

FAQ

Heley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Heley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 313 people were recorded with the Heley surname. That placed it at #9,436 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Heley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 327 in 2016. That gives Heley a modern rank of #13,868.

What does the Heley surname mean?

From an English place name meaning "high meadow" or "high clearing".

What does the Heley map show?

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