NameCensus.

UK surname

Hobley

A habitational surname derived from the village of Hubley in Yorkshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 505 people recorded with the Hobley surname, ranking it #6,730 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 478, ranked #10,329, down from #6,730 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rugby, Llanbeblig and Clifton-on-Dunsmoor. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sandwell, West Oxfordshire and Wirral.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hobley is 602 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 5.3%.

1881 census count

505

Ranked #6,730

Modern count

478

2016, ranked #10,329

Peak year

1911

602 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hobley had 505 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,730 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 478 in 2016, ranked #10,329.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 602 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hobley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hobley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hobley 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 340 #6,905
1861 historical 355 #7,198
1881 historical 505 #6,730
1891 historical 484 #7,621
1901 historical 529 #7,736
1911 historical 602 #6,820
1997 modern 541 #8,772
1998 modern 573 #8,643
1999 modern 570 #8,736
2000 modern 568 #8,717
2001 modern 563 #8,654
2002 modern 545 #9,038
2003 modern 515 #9,288
2004 modern 530 #9,117
2005 modern 528 #9,081
2006 modern 534 #9,026
2007 modern 514 #9,376
2008 modern 499 #9,646
2009 modern 516 #9,614
2010 modern 529 #9,640
2011 modern 504 #9,895
2012 modern 505 #9,787
2013 modern 511 #9,862
2014 modern 496 #10,124
2015 modern 485 #10,233
2016 modern 478 #10,329

Geography

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Where Hobleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rugby, Llanbeblig, Clifton-on-Dunsmoor, Wolverhampton and Banbury. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sandwell, West Oxfordshire, Wirral and Wealden. 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 Rugby Warwickshire
2 Llanbeblig Carnarvonshire
3 Clifton-on-Dunsmoor Warwickshire
4 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
5 Banbury Oxfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sandwell 022 Sandwell
2 West Oxfordshire 006 West Oxfordshire
3 Wirral 004 Wirral
4 West Oxfordshire 005 West Oxfordshire
5 Wealden 007 Wealden

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hobley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hobley

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

Hobley is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hobley 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 Hobley 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 Hobley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Hobley

The surname Hobley originated in England during the late medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "hob," meaning a flat-topped hill or mound, and "ley," meaning a meadow or clearing. This suggests that the name was likely borne by someone who lived near a distinctive hill or mound in a meadow or clearing.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 13th century in various county records and tax rolls from the English counties of Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Lincolnshire. The name was often spelled in various ways, such as Hobbeley, Hobley, and Hobly, reflecting the variations in local dialects and scribal practices.

One of the earliest known records of the name is found in the Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire from 1327, which mention a Robert de Hobbeley. Another early reference is in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from 1379, which list a John Hobley.

Over the centuries, the Hobley name has been associated with several notable individuals. One such person was William Hobley (c. 1600-1679), an English clergyman who served as the Rector of Ickham in Kent from 1640 until his death.

Another prominent figure was Charles Hobley (1796-1879), a English lawyer and legal writer who published several works on the laws of bankruptcy and conveyancing.

In the realm of exploration and colonialism, John Ainsworth Hobley (1858-1923) was a British colonial administrator who served as the Commissioner of the East Africa Protectorate (present-day Kenya) from 1899 to 1912.

In the field of medicine, Charles Leonard Hobley (1887-1975) was a British physician and surgeon who made significant contributions to the treatment of fractures and orthopedic surgery.

Lastly, Clifford Hobley (1918-2008) was a British actor and writer who appeared in various television shows and films throughout his career, including roles in popular series like "Dad's Army" and "Fawlty Towers."

These examples illustrate the diverse backgrounds and accomplishments of individuals who have borne the Hobley surname throughout history, reflecting its enduring presence in various regions of England and beyond.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hobley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hobley 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. Warwickshire leads with 158 Hobleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.77x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 158 12.77x
Middlesex 51 1.04x
Oxfordshire 38 12.54x
Berkshire 30 8.15x
Staffordshire 30 1.81x
Buckinghamshire 26 8.77x
Lancashire 19 0.33x
Caernarfonshire 17 8.57x
Cheshire 17 1.57x
Surrey 15 0.63x
Somerset 13 1.65x
Leicestershire 12 2.21x
Yorkshire 12 0.25x
Northamptonshire 10 2.17x
Derbyshire 9 1.17x
Nottinghamshire 9 1.36x
Worcestershire 6 0.94x
Cornwall 5 0.90x
Glamorgan 5 0.59x
Lincolnshire 5 0.64x
Gloucestershire 3 0.31x
Hampshire 3 0.30x
Sussex 3 0.36x
Essex 2 0.21x
Herefordshire 1 0.50x
Kent 1 0.06x
Roxburghshire 1 1.13x
Shropshire 1 0.24x
Wiltshire 1 0.23x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Rugby in Warwickshire leads with 37 Hobleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 221.03x.

Place Total Index
Rugby 37 221.03x
Monks Kirby 20 735.29x
Clifton On Dunsmore 18 1800.00x
Aston 15 4.40x
Aylesbury 15 114.16x
Birmingham 15 3.64x
St Pancras London 15 3.80x
Llanbeblig 12 59.61x
Neithrop 10 98.23x
Willenhall 10 32.24x
Bingham 9 320.28x
Newbold Pacey 9 1428.57x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 9 72.23x
Chilvers Coton 8 157.17x
Rowley Regis 8 17.33x
Southam 8 265.78x
Westminster St James 8 15.86x
Binfield 7 247.35x
Great Neston 7 195.53x
Leafield 7 583.33x
Mapperley 7 958.90x
Upton Cum Chalvey 7 59.22x
Bootle Cum Linacre 6 12.98x
Nuneaton 6 41.87x
Oldbury 6 19.04x
Paulton 6 165.75x
Sonning 6 147.42x
Stoke Upon Trent 6 3.42x
Sunninghill 6 117.42x
Warfield 6 179.64x
Whitnash 6 833.33x
Widnes 6 14.29x
Battersea 5 2.77x
Calverley Cum Farsley 5 36.21x
Cassington 5 892.86x
Great Grimsby 5 10.04x
Hackney London 5 1.82x
Hanwell 5 1190.48x
Holy Trinity 5 4.28x
Roath 5 12.89x
Coventry Holy Trinity 4 10.83x
Deddington 4 121.58x
Kensington London 4 1.47x
Lambeth 4 0.94x
Leicester St Margaret 4 3.02x
Llanberis 4 78.28x
Madron Penzance 4 19.80x
Mile End Old Town London 4 3.83x
St Martin In Fields 4 13.62x
Thame 4 72.60x
Walcot 4 9.51x
Wellingborough 4 17.24x
Woking 4 27.76x
Bethnal Green London 3 1.41x
Cheetham 3 6.91x
Luddington 3 1764.71x
Paddington London 3 1.66x
Thurlaston 3 333.33x
Wednesbury 3 7.25x
Bath St Michael 2 50.13x
Blewbury 2 158.73x
Brinklow 2 151.52x
Chelsea London 2 1.35x
Newington 2 1.10x
Newton Biggin 2 500.00x
Norton 2 294.12x
Oxford St Giles 2 13.83x
Salford 2 1.17x
Scalford 2 173.91x
Southampton All Sts 2 11.59x
Stone 2 86.96x
Wargrave 2 63.29x
Warkworth 2 48.19x
Wigston Magna 2 27.70x
Bangor 1 5.23x
Bitteswell 1 163.93x
Huddersfield 1 1.41x
St Austell 1 5.27x
Steyning 1 35.71x
Westbury On Trym 1 3.07x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 30
Sarah 26
Elizabeth 21
Ann 16
Ellen 10
Emily 10
Annie 9
Emma 8
Maria 8
Lucy 7
Martha 7
Hannah 6
Ada 5
Alice 5
Jane 5
Anne 4
Clara 4
Louisa 4
Caroline 3
Catherine 3
Eliza 3
Minnie 3
Priscilla 3
Edith 2
Elizth. 2
Fanny 2
Florence 2
Frances 2
Gertrude 2
Harriet 2
Julia 2
Mabel 2
Margaret 2
Matilda 2
Rosa 2
Selina 2
Agnes 1
Amelia 1
Bertha 1
Betsey 1
C.E. 1
Elizth.J. 1
Ethel 1
Fannie 1
Isabella 1
Izabella 1
Letitia 1
Lilly 1
Louise 1
Victoria 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 35
Thomas 23
Charles 19
John 19
Henry 16
Joseph 15
George 13
James 13
Arthur 9
Edward 8
Frank 7
Samuel 7
Alfred 5
Ernest 5
Richard 5
Frederick 4
Walter 4
Albert 3
Harry 3
Edwin 2
Frederic 2
Herbert 2
Vincent 2
Archibald 1
David 1
Edgar 1
Edwd. 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Grant 1
Hubert 1
Jeremiah 1
Lancelot 1
Lewis 1
Peter 1
Randle 1
Robert 1
Sidney 1
Simon 1
Thos. 1
Tom 1
Wilfred 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Hobley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hobley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 505 people were recorded with the Hobley surname. That placed it at #6,730 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hobley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 478 in 2016. That gives Hobley a modern rank of #10,329.

What does the Hobley surname mean?

A habitational surname derived from the village of Hubley in Yorkshire, England.

What does the Hobley map show?

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