UK surname
An English surname possibly derived from a place name or habitational name.
In the 1881 census there were 17 people recorded with the Hentley surname, ranking it #31,170 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 16, ranked #36,998, down from #31,170 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Fittleton with Hacklestone, Rochdale and Swineshead, North Forty Foot Bank, Drainage Marsh, Forty-foot Bridge, Gibbet Hills, Rakes Farm, Roya. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hentley is 137 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 5.9%.
1881 census count
17
Ranked #31,170
Modern count
16
2016, ranked #36,998
Peak year
1861
137 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Hentley surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Hentley surname density by area, 1861 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 | 36 | #26,838 |
| 1861 | historical | 137 | #16,465 |
| 1881 | historical | 17 | #31,170 |
| 1891 | historical | 63 | #28,881 |
| 1901 | historical | 22 | #31,562 |
| 1911 | historical | 37 | #29,263 |
| 1997 | modern | 22 | #35,584 |
| 1998 | modern | 20 | #35,885 |
| 1999 | modern | 20 | #35,923 |
| 2000 | modern | 19 | #36,007 |
| 2001 | modern | 17 | #36,053 |
| 2002 | modern | 14 | #36,484 |
| 2003 | modern | 12 | #36,715 |
| 2004 | modern | 12 | #36,835 |
| 2005 | modern | 12 | #36,936 |
| 2006 | modern | 12 | #37,014 |
| 2007 | modern | 13 | #36,990 |
| 2008 | modern | 15 | #36,843 |
| 2009 | modern | 13 | #37,140 |
| 2010 | modern | 13 | #37,215 |
| 2011 | modern | 12 | #37,287 |
| 2012 | modern | 15 | #36,982 |
| 2013 | modern | 16 | #36,955 |
| 2014 | modern | 17 | #36,888 |
| 2015 | modern | 17 | #36,887 |
| 2016 | modern | 16 | #36,998 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Fittleton with Hacklestone, Rochdale, Swineshead, North Forty Foot Bank, Drainage Marsh, Forty-foot Bridge, Gibbet Hills, Rakes Farm, Roya, Winwick and Tunbridge, Bidborough. 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 | Fittleton with Hacklestone | Wiltshire |
| 2 | Rochdale | Lancashire |
| 3 | Swineshead, North Forty Foot Bank, Drainage Marsh, Forty-foot Bridge, Gibbet Hills, Rakes Farm, Roya | Lincolnshire |
| 4 | Winwick | Lancashire |
| 5 | Tunbridge, Bidborough | Kent |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Hentley 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 Hentley, 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 Hentley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Hentley 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, Hentley 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 Hentley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Hentley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Hentley originated from the English county of Gloucestershire during the late medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "henn" meaning "fowl" and "leah" meaning "woodland clearing," suggesting that the name initially referred to someone who lived in a wooded area known for its poultry farming.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Hentley can be traced back to the 13th century, where it appeared in the Assize Rolls of Somerset in 1268 as "Hentelye." This suggests that variations of the spelling, such as "Hentelie" or "Henteleye," were in use during that time.
The Hentley name is also associated with various place names in England, such as Hentley Meadows in Berkshire and Hentley Farm in Wiltshire. These locations likely derived their names from the surname itself, indicating that individuals bearing the Hentley name may have resided or held land in those areas.
Notably, the Hentley surname was mentioned in the famous Domesday Book, a manuscript compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror, which recorded the names of landholders and their properties throughout England. This historical reference underscores the surname's longstanding presence in the region.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Hentley surname. One such figure was Sir William Hentley (1480-1539), a prominent English landowner and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire in the early 16th century.
Another distinguished bearer of the name was Elizabeth Hentley (1592-1670), a celebrated English poet and author renowned for her works exploring themes of love, nature, and spirituality.
In the 18th century, John Hentley (1701-1768) gained recognition as a skilled architect and builder, responsible for designing and constructing several notable churches and estates across southern England.
During the Victorian era, Henry Hentley (1825-1901) made significant contributions to the field of education, serving as the headmaster of a prestigious boarding school in Oxfordshire and advocating for educational reforms.
Lastly, the 20th century saw the rise of Sir Arthur Hentley (1910-1992), a highly decorated British military officer who played a pivotal role in the Allied campaigns during World War II and later served as the Governor of Gibraltar.
These examples illustrate the historical significance and prevalence of the Hentley surname across various fields and time periods, solidifying its enduring legacy as a part of English heritage.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hentley 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. Surrey leads with 13 Hentleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.11x.
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Reigate Borough in Surrey leads with 11 Hentleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 5789.47x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Reigate Borough | 11 | 5789.47x |
| Shipley | 4 | 470.59x |
| Reigate Foreign | 2 | 229.89x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Hentley surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 17 people were recorded with the Hentley surname. That placed it at #31,170 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 16 in 2016. That gives Hentley a modern rank of #36,998.
An English surname possibly derived from a place name or habitational name.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Hentley 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.