NameCensus.

UK surname

Henley

From a place name meaning "high wood" or "clearing in the forest" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 2,279 people recorded with the Henley surname, ranking it #1,961 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,720, ranked #2,468, down from #1,961 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wiltshire, Dover and Teignbridge.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Henley is 3,051 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 19.4%.

1881 census count

2,279

Ranked #1,961

Modern count

2,720

2016, ranked #2,468

Peak year

1911

3,051 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Henley had 2,279 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,961 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,720 in 2016, ranked #2,468.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,051 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Henley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Henley surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Henley 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 1,432 #2,005
1861 historical 1,671 #1,713
1881 historical 2,279 #1,961
1891 historical 2,476 #1,915
1901 historical 2,863 #1,953
1911 historical 3,051 #1,709
1997 modern 2,806 #2,299
1998 modern 2,904 #2,318
1999 modern 2,896 #2,336
2000 modern 2,906 #2,315
2001 modern 2,804 #2,346
2002 modern 2,814 #2,379
2003 modern 2,711 #2,405
2004 modern 2,694 #2,414
2005 modern 2,647 #2,429
2006 modern 2,673 #2,410
2007 modern 2,689 #2,417
2008 modern 2,713 #2,421
2009 modern 2,798 #2,412
2010 modern 2,813 #2,440
2011 modern 2,797 #2,426
2012 modern 2,730 #2,437
2013 modern 2,775 #2,443
2014 modern 2,781 #2,454
2015 modern 2,740 #2,466
2016 modern 2,720 #2,468

Geography

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Where Henleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wiltshire, Dover, Teignbridge and Isle of Wight. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wiltshire 027 Wiltshire
2 Dover 011 Dover
3 Teignbridge 005 Teignbridge
4 Isle of Wight 010 Isle of Wight
5 Teignbridge 006 Teignbridge

Forenames

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First names often paired with Henley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Henley

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Henley is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Henley 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

Henley falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Henley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Henley

The surname Henley is of English origin, derived from the place name Henley, which can be traced back to the Old English words "hēan" meaning "high" and "lēah" meaning "woodland clearing." The name likely originated in the 11th century or earlier, referring to individuals who lived in the elevated woodland clearings of various locations in England.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Henlei" in reference to the town of Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire. The town's name was derived from the same Old English roots, indicating a high clearing in a wooded area.

The surname Henley has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest was Walter de Henley, a 13th-century English writer and agriculturist who authored the influential treatise "Husbandry" (c. 1286), providing insights into medieval farming practices.

In the realm of literature, the name is closely linked to William Ernest Henley (1849-1903), a prominent English poet, critic, and editor. He is best known for his poetry collection "In Hospital" and his iconic poem "Invictus," which has inspired generations with its message of resilience and unconquerable spirit.

Another notable bearer of the name was Thomas Henley (1786-1841), an English engineer and inventor who contributed significantly to the development of early steam engines and assisted in the construction of the famous Menai Suspension Bridge in Wales.

In the field of sports, Sir Walter Henley (1856-1939) was a notable English cricketer who played for Middlesex County Cricket Club and was inducted into the International Cricket Council's Hall of Fame in 2009.

The name Henley has also been associated with places, such as Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire, Henley-in-Arden in Warwickshire, and Henley Brook in Western Australia, further cementing its historical significance.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Henley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Henley 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. Middlesex leads with 409 Henleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.83x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 409 1.83x
Surrey 281 2.58x
Sussex 219 5.81x
Devon 132 2.84x
Staffordshire 128 1.70x
Buckinghamshire 106 7.85x
Kent 93 1.22x
Gloucestershire 86 1.96x
Warwickshire 83 1.47x
Wiltshire 83 4.20x
Lancashire 82 0.31x
Hampshire 70 1.53x
Yorkshire 52 0.23x
Bedfordshire 40 3.46x
Somerset 37 1.03x
Worcestershire 33 1.13x
Northamptonshire 27 1.29x
Nottinghamshire 25 0.83x
Hertfordshire 23 1.49x
Berkshire 22 1.31x
Shropshire 22 1.14x
Cumberland 20 1.04x
Essex 18 0.41x
Cheshire 17 0.34x
Glamorgan 17 0.44x
Oxfordshire 16 1.16x
Channel Islands 15 2.27x
Lincolnshire 14 0.39x
Herefordshire 12 1.31x
Durham 11 0.17x
Northumberland 10 0.30x
Derbyshire 9 0.26x
Dorset 9 0.61x
Monmouthshire 8 0.50x
Norfolk 8 0.23x
Inverness-shire 7 1.05x
Leicestershire 6 0.24x
Angus 4 0.19x
Lanarkshire 4 0.06x
Royal Navy 4 1.50x
Rutland 4 2.44x
Suffolk 4 0.15x
Fife 3 0.23x
Huntingdonshire 3 0.68x
Renfrewshire 3 0.17x
Carmarthenshire 2 0.21x
Montgomeryshire 2 0.39x
Brecknockshire 1 0.22x
Cornwall 1 0.04x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.17x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.14x
Perthshire 1 0.10x
Radnorshire 1 0.55x
West Lothian 1 0.30x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 56 Henleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.59x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 56 2.59x
Birmingham 51 2.72x
St Marylebone London 49 4.11x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 46 11.15x
Camberwell 45 3.15x
West Bromwich 36 8.34x
Harborne 35 14.48x
Lambeth 31 1.59x
Battersea 30 3.65x
Brighton 28 3.68x
Wootton Bassett 28 162.98x
Dudley 26 7.33x
St Pancras London 26 1.45x
Eaton Bray 25 214.04x
Hackney London 25 2.00x
Bermondsey 24 3.61x
Tormoham 24 12.20x
Aston Clinton 22 192.14x
Kensington London 22 1.77x
Paddington London 22 2.68x
Mile End Old Town London 20 4.21x
Axminster 19 87.16x
Balcombe 18 267.86x
Horsham 18 24.60x
Kingston On Thames 18 6.88x
Little Brickhill 18 978.26x
Ardingly 17 142.02x
Hammersmith London 17 3.09x
Nottingham St Mary 17 2.18x
Bethnal Green London 16 1.65x
Newington 16 1.94x
Westminster St John 16 5.88x
Shabbington 15 553.51x
Aston 14 0.90x
Stoke Upon Trent 14 1.75x
Tipton 14 6.06x
Hampstead London 13 3.74x
Hurstpierpoint 13 62.02x
St Helens 13 39.05x
Swindon 13 8.48x
Broadwater 12 13.89x
Fyfield 12 465.12x
Lewisham 12 2.95x
Over Darwen 12 5.67x
Shoreditch London 12 1.24x
Kings Somborne 11 114.58x
Northampton Priory St 11 8.72x
Oldham 11 1.29x
Shrewsbury St Julian 11 23.04x
Chelsea London 10 1.49x
Petworth 10 44.44x
Southwark St John 10 14.64x
St Bride London 10 77.04x
Upper Beeding 10 214.13x
Bristol St James St Paul 9 6.16x
Croydon 9 1.49x
East Grinstead 9 16.88x
Egham 9 13.47x
Monks Coppenhall 9 4.84x
Putney 9 8.84x
Spreyton 9 307.17x
Sutton Coldfield 9 15.20x
West Ham 9 0.92x
Bitton Oldland 8 17.86x
Brackenthwaite 8 898.88x
Deptford St Paul 8 1.36x
Frome 8 9.30x
Kingsteignton 8 61.87x
Liverpool 8 0.50x
North Marston 8 160.32x
Penge 8 5.61x
Rodbourne Cheney 8 52.46x
St Luke London 8 2.23x
Stoke Newington London 8 4.60x
Strood 8 18.40x
Tonbridge 8 2.91x
Toxteth Park 8 0.89x
Wakefield 8 4.71x
Walcot 8 4.18x
Westleigh 8 13.29x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 169
Elizabeth 79
Sarah 78
Jane 47
Ann 41
Eliza 39
Alice 36
Ellen 35
Emma 34
Annie 31
Emily 26
Caroline 23
Catherine 22
Florence 18
Margaret 18
Louisa 16
Maria 15
Edith 14
Agnes 13
Hannah 13
Harriet 13
Kate 13
Martha 13
Frances 12
Anne 11
Charlotte 11
Fanny 11
Rose 11
Lucy 9
Ada 8
Elizth. 8
Amelia 7
Ethel 7
Harriett 7
Rebecca 7
Esther 6
Matilda 6
Adelaide 5
Gertrude 5
Henrietta 5
Jessie 5
Julia 5
Maud 5
Phoebe 5
Sophia 5
Susan 5
Anna 4
Isabella 4
Mabel 4
Minnie 4

Top male names

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

FAQ

Henley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Henley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,279 people were recorded with the Henley surname. That placed it at #1,961 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Henley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,720 in 2016. That gives Henley a modern rank of #2,468.

What does the Henley surname mean?

From a place name meaning "high wood" or "clearing in the forest" in Old English.

What does the Henley map show?

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