NameCensus.

UK surname

Hendley

From the English place name Hendley, which means "high woodland clearing" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 499 people recorded with the Hendley surname, ranking it #6,784 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 663, ranked #8,048, down from #6,784 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Sedgley, Dudley and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnsley, Bolsover and Derby.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hendley is 779 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 32.9%.

1881 census count

499

Ranked #6,784

Modern count

663

2016, ranked #8,048

Peak year

1998

779 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hendley had 499 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,784 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 663 in 2016, ranked #8,048.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 710 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Hendley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hendley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hendley 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 383 #6,247
1861 historical 445 #5,811
1881 historical 499 #6,784
1891 historical 665 #5,851
1901 historical 652 #6,629
1911 historical 710 #6,007
1997 modern 702 #7,234
1998 modern 779 #6,905
1999 modern 771 #6,992
2000 modern 745 #7,140
2001 modern 735 #7,086
2002 modern 727 #7,285
2003 modern 716 #7,246
2004 modern 726 #7,188
2005 modern 714 #7,213
2006 modern 730 #7,132
2007 modern 734 #7,179
2008 modern 718 #7,335
2009 modern 743 #7,305
2010 modern 758 #7,320
2011 modern 741 #7,381
2012 modern 691 #7,676
2013 modern 688 #7,838
2014 modern 687 #7,893
2015 modern 667 #8,026
2016 modern 663 #8,048

Geography

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Where Hendleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Sedgley, Dudley, London parishes, St Pancras and St Werburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barnsley, Bolsover, Derby, Wealden and Manchester. 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 Sedgley Staffordshire
2 Dudley Staffordshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 St Werburgh Derbyshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barnsley 014 Barnsley
2 Bolsover 001 Bolsover
3 Derby 013 Derby
4 Wealden 005 Wealden
5 Manchester 044 Manchester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hendley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hendley

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Hendley, 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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Hendley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Hendley household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Hendley is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Hendley is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hendley 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 Hendley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Hendley

The surname Hendley originated in England during the medieval period, deriving its roots from the Old English words "hende," meaning courteous or civil, and "leah," signifying a meadow or clearing in the woods. This name was likely borne by individuals who resided in a courteous manner within a particular clearing or settlement.

Hendley is believed to have first emerged in the southern counties of England, particularly in areas like Dorset and Somerset, where the earliest recorded instances of this surname can be traced back to the 13th century. The Hundred Rolls of 1273, which served as a census-like record of landowners and their holdings, contain references to individuals with variations of the Hendley name, such as Hendeleia and Hendelegh.

One of the earliest documented bearers of this surname was Roger de Hendelegh, who was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Somerset in 1327. Another notable figure was John Hendley, a wealthy merchant from Dorchester, Dorset, who lived in the late 14th century and was recorded in the town's historical records.

In the 15th century, the Hendley surname appeared in various manorial records and court rolls across southern England. For instance, a Thomas Hendley was listed as a tenant farmer in the manor of Berwick St. John, Wiltshire, in 1476. The name also surfaced in the Hertfordshire County Records of the same era, indicating the gradual spread of this surname beyond its original southern English heartland.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Hendley name gained prominence through several notable individuals. One such figure was Sir Walter Hendley (1555-1611), a distinguished lawyer and Member of Parliament who served as the Recorder of Salisbury and was knighted by King James I in 1603. Another eminent bearer of this surname was Sir John Hendley (1599-1662), a wealthy landowner and Member of Parliament for Wiltshire, who played a significant role in the English Civil War as a supporter of the Parliamentarian cause.

In the 18th century, Reverend William Hendley (1691-1767) gained recognition as a prominent clergyman and author, serving as the Rector of Rendlesham in Suffolk and publishing several theological works. Meanwhile, John Hendley (1770-1855), a renowned horticulturist and nurseryman from Bedfordshire, made significant contributions to the development of new plant varieties and the cultivation of exotic species.

The Hendley surname has also been associated with notable figures in more recent times, such as Sir Thomas Holden Hendley (1847-1917), a distinguished British administrator and diplomat who served as the Lieutenant-Governor of Punjab and later as the Governor of Mauritius. Additionally, James Hendley (1786-1859), a successful merchant and philanthropist from Liverpool, is remembered for his significant charitable contributions to educational institutions in the city.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hendley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hendley 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. Staffordshire leads with 76 Hendleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.63x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 76 4.63x
Hampshire 60 6.01x
Middlesex 47 0.97x
Sussex 45 5.48x
Warwickshire 37 3.01x
Lancashire 35 0.61x
Kent 31 1.87x
Surrey 27 1.14x
Derbyshire 20 2.62x
Shropshire 20 4.76x
Worcestershire 20 3.15x
Buckinghamshire 15 5.10x
Dorset 14 4.38x
Essex 12 1.25x
Yorkshire 9 0.19x
Norfolk 6 0.80x
Berkshire 5 1.37x
Lincolnshire 4 0.51x
Cheshire 3 0.28x
Montgomeryshire 2 1.79x
Oxfordshire 2 0.67x
Wiltshire 2 0.46x
Bedfordshire 1 0.40x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.51x
Denbighshire 1 0.54x
Gloucestershire 1 0.10x
Hertfordshire 1 0.30x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.15x
Suffolk 1 0.17x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Andover in Hampshire leads with 16 Hendleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 169.67x.

Place Total Index
Andover 16 169.67x
St Pancras London 16 4.08x
Derby St Werburgh 15 34.09x
Grandborough 15 3000.00x
Rowley Regis 15 32.76x
Sedgley 15 24.58x
Dudley 14 18.12x
Trentham 12 85.90x
Kingswinford 11 18.44x
Waldron 11 491.07x
West Bromwich 11 11.69x
Chetwynd 10 735.29x
Lambeth 10 2.36x
Nether Wallop 9 687.02x
Old Stratford 9 129.50x
South Malling 9 737.70x
Tonbridge 9 15.03x
West Ham 9 4.24x
Woolwich 9 14.67x
Barrow In Furness 8 10.18x
Birmingham 8 1.96x
Hinstock 8 555.56x
Bourton 7 500.00x
Kinver 7 147.68x
Oldham 7 3.75x
Portsea 7 3.58x
St Maurice Winchester 7 168.67x
Weymouth 7 115.70x
Coventry St Michael 6 15.22x
Dover St James 6 82.42x
Exhall 6 322.58x
Heathfield 6 180.18x
Hooton Pagnell 6 1224.49x
Newington 6 3.34x
St George In East London 6 13.11x
Weasenham St Peter 6 1333.33x
Frant 5 85.91x
Gorton 5 9.21x
Islington London 5 1.06x
Midgham 5 1000.00x
Reigate Foreign 5 19.47x
South Stoneham 5 23.11x
Aston 4 1.18x
Camberwell 4 1.29x
East Hoathly 4 279.72x
Kings Somborne 4 191.39x
Nuthurst 4 294.12x
Over Wallop 4 444.44x
St Luke London 4 5.12x
Brenchley 3 50.51x
Bromley London 3 2.80x
Bromsgrove 3 14.03x
Everton 3 1.63x
Leek Lowe 3 13.72x
Pentrich 3 69.93x
Warrington 3 4.38x
Westminster St Margaret 3 12.78x
Worcester St John 3 39.53x
Burcombe 2 384.62x
Chelsea London 2 1.36x
Chingford 2 86.21x
Deptford St Paul 2 1.56x
Edgmond 2 43.20x
Haselor 2 350.88x
Ince In Makerfield 2 7.44x
Little Ponton 2 526.32x
Liverpool 2 0.57x
Mottisfont 2 229.89x
Sculcoates 2 2.62x
St George Hanover Square 2 2.33x
Stretton In Runcorn 2 303.03x
Worthen 2 1000.00x
Alverstoke 1 2.77x
East Tytherley 1 158.73x
Farnborough 1 9.54x
Harrowby Grantham 1 178.57x
Newcastle Under Lyme 1 3.44x
St Gregory By St Pauls 1 81.97x
Stratford On Avon 1 14.68x
Watford 1 3.84x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 46
Sarah 26
Eliza 14
Alice 11
Elizabeth 11
Ellen 10
Ann 9
Louisa 9
Emma 8
Jane 7
Emily 6
Fanny 6
Lucy 6
Martha 6
Charlotte 4
Kate 4
Margaret 4
Ada 3
Anne 3
Annie 3
Caroline 3
E. 3
Gertrude 3
Hannah 3
Amelia 2
Bessie 2
Clara 2
Edith 2
Florence 2
Frances 2
Harriet 2
Isabella 2
Julia 2
Laura 2
Lizzie 2
Lydia 2
Maud 2
Minnie 2
Myra 2
Nancy 2
Philadelphia 2
Rose 2
Annabella 1
Bridget 1
Catherine 1
Elizth. 1
Ethel 1
Lillian 1
Lily 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 34
John 24
George 19
Thomas 14
James 11
Henry 10
Walter 9
Alfred 8
Charles 7
Joseph 7
Arthur 5
Frederick 4
Richard 4
Willm. 4
Albert 3
Ernest 3
Fred 3
Robert 3
Samuel 3
Benjamin 2
Edward 2
Frank 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Peter 2
Roland 2
Ben 1
Claude 1
Daniel 1
Ebenezer 1
Edgar 1
Edmund 1
Enoch 1
Enos 1
Fred. 1
Fredick 1
Fredrick 1
H. 1
Harold 1
Henery 1
Leonard 1
Louis 1
Owen 1
Rbt. 1
Saml. 1
Saton 1
Simon 1
Solomon 1
Stephen 1
Zachariah 1

FAQ

Hendley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hendley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 499 people were recorded with the Hendley surname. That placed it at #6,784 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hendley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 663 in 2016. That gives Hendley a modern rank of #8,048.

What does the Hendley surname mean?

From the English place name Hendley, which means "high woodland clearing" in Old English.

What does the Hendley map show?

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