UK surname
An English locational surname originating from a place called Hurley in Berkshire.
In the 1881 census there were 104 people recorded with the Herley surname, ranking it #19,296 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 61, ranked #34,287, down from #19,296 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Willesden, Edmonsham and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Herley is 310 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 41.3%.
1881 census count
104
Ranked #19,296
Modern count
61
2016, ranked #34,287
Peak year
1861
310 bearers
Map years
4
1861 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Herley surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Herley 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 | 91 | #18,187 |
| 1861 | historical | 310 | #8,175 |
| 1881 | historical | 104 | #19,296 |
| 1891 | historical | 254 | #12,598 |
| 1901 | historical | 97 | #23,227 |
| 1911 | historical | 116 | #20,850 |
| 1997 | modern | 56 | #32,004 |
| 1998 | modern | 48 | #33,111 |
| 1999 | modern | 41 | #33,866 |
| 2000 | modern | 45 | #33,526 |
| 2001 | modern | 45 | #33,401 |
| 2002 | modern | 49 | #33,377 |
| 2003 | modern | 47 | #33,619 |
| 2004 | modern | 47 | #33,819 |
| 2005 | modern | 44 | #34,255 |
| 2006 | modern | 47 | #34,335 |
| 2007 | modern | 50 | #34,347 |
| 2008 | modern | 53 | #34,315 |
| 2009 | modern | 58 | #34,144 |
| 2010 | modern | 58 | #34,346 |
| 2011 | modern | 55 | #34,502 |
| 2012 | modern | 58 | #34,404 |
| 2013 | modern | 60 | #34,378 |
| 2014 | modern | 60 | #34,400 |
| 2015 | modern | 59 | #34,407 |
| 2016 | modern | 61 | #34,287 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Willesden, Edmonsham, London parishes, Ealing, Chiswick and St Philip and Jacob. 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 | Willesden | Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts) |
| 2 | Edmonsham | Dorset |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | Ealing, Chiswick | Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts) |
| 5 | St Philip and Jacob | Gloucestershire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Herley 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 Herley, 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 Herley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Herley 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, Herley 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 Herley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Herley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Herley has its origins in the northern English county of Lancashire, dating back to the late 12th century. It is derived from the Old English words "hare" and "leah," meaning a meadow or clearing frequented by hares. This suggests that the earliest bearers of the name likely lived in such a location.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lancashire, a collection of financial records from the reign of King John in the early 13th century. Here, a certain Roger de Harelay is mentioned as a landowner in the area.
By the 14th century, the name had evolved into its more modern spelling of Herley, as evidenced by entries in the Lancashire Inquests and Extents, a survey of land holdings conducted during the reign of Edward III. These records mention John de Herley, who held lands near the village of Chorley.
In the 15th century, the Herley family appears to have gained prominence in the region. William Herley (c. 1420-1485) was a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of Preston, while his contemporary, Thomas Herley (c. 1430-1492), served as a justice of the peace in Lancashire.
As the centuries passed, the Herley name spread beyond its northern English homeland. In the late 16th century, a branch of the family settled in the county of Shropshire, where they became landowners and gentry. One notable member of this line was Sir Robert Herley (1582-1653), a Royalist soldier who fought in the English Civil War.
Across the Atlantic, the Herley surname also took root in the American colonies. Among the earliest recorded instances is that of John Herley, who arrived in Virginia from England in 1635. Another early immigrant was William Herley, who settled in Maryland in the late 17th century.
Other notable bearers of the Herley name include Sir John Herley (1765-1843), a British naval officer who served with distinction during the Napoleonic Wars, and Sir William Herley (1797-1872), a British diplomat and politician who served as ambassador to the Ottoman Empire in the mid-19th century.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Herley 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. Lancashire leads with 23 Herleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.91x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 23 | 1.91x |
| Middlesex | 22 | 2.17x |
| Hampshire | 14 | 6.73x |
| Essex | 13 | 6.49x |
| Surrey | 10 | 2.02x |
| Cornwall | 4 | 3.48x |
| Staffordshire | 3 | 0.88x |
| Somerset | 2 | 1.23x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 0.20x |
| Brecknockshire | 1 | 4.93x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.45x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 0.63x |
| Dorset | 1 | 1.50x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 1.43x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 0.62x |
| Midlothian | 1 | 0.74x |
| Monmouthshire | 1 | 1.36x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 0.66x |
| Oxfordshire | 1 | 1.60x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 0.39x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hound in Hampshire leads with 9 Herleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 638.30x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Hound | 9 | 638.30x |
| Salford | 9 | 25.42x |
| St Martin In Fields | 8 | 131.80x |
| Stansted Mountfitchet | 8 | 1568.63x |
| Stoke Newington London | 8 | 101.27x |
| Toxteth Park | 7 | 17.17x |
| Bermondsey | 5 | 16.56x |
| Walthamstow | 5 | 69.35x |
| Camborne | 4 | 84.57x |
| Milton | 4 | 769.23x |
| Hulme | 3 | 11.94x |
| Lambeth | 3 | 3.39x |
| Formby | 2 | 147.06x |
| Heston | 2 | 59.35x |
| Newington | 2 | 5.34x |
| Thornhill | 2 | 68.26x |
| Tipton | 2 | 19.08x |
| Birmingham | 1 | 1.17x |
| Blandford Forum | 1 | 76.34x |
| Bobbington | 1 | 714.29x |
| Cheetham | 1 | 11.14x |
| East Barnet | 1 | 71.94x |
| East Harptree | 1 | 434.78x |
| Ewelme | 1 | 476.19x |
| Hackney London | 1 | 1.76x |
| Harrow On The Hill | 1 | 49.26x |
| Kelsall | 1 | 454.55x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 1.77x |
| Lasswade | 1 | 32.15x |
| Llanspyddid | 1 | 526.32x |
| Manchester | 1 | 1.85x |
| Repton | 1 | 166.67x |
| Southampton All Sts | 1 | 28.01x |
| St John Lincoln | 1 | 588.24x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 1.85x |
| St Woollos | 1 | 12.22x |
| Westgate | 1 | 10.70x |
| Wrington | 1 | 181.82x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Herley 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 Herley surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 104 people were recorded with the Herley surname. That placed it at #19,296 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 61 in 2016. That gives Herley a modern rank of #34,287.
An English locational surname originating from a place called Hurley in Berkshire.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Herley 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.