NameCensus.

UK surname

Horley

Of English origin, a locational surname referring to someone from the town of Horley in Surrey.

In the 1881 census there were 704 people recorded with the Horley surname, ranking it #5,166 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 521, ranked #9,701, down from #5,166 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Radford Semele and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Warwick, Purbeck and Flintshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Horley is 851 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 26.0%.

1881 census count

704

Ranked #5,166

Modern count

521

2016, ranked #9,701

Peak year

1911

851 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Horley had 704 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,166 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 521 in 2016, ranked #9,701.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 851 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Horley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Horley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Horley 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 477 #5,223
1861 historical 728 #3,738
1881 historical 704 #5,166
1891 historical 732 #5,422
1901 historical 734 #6,034
1911 historical 851 #5,214
1997 modern 584 #8,299
1998 modern 600 #8,397
1999 modern 594 #8,497
2000 modern 601 #8,412
2001 modern 564 #8,645
2002 modern 563 #8,821
2003 modern 546 #8,884
2004 modern 551 #8,845
2005 modern 525 #9,120
2006 modern 536 #8,994
2007 modern 548 #8,927
2008 modern 548 #8,993
2009 modern 581 #8,793
2010 modern 582 #8,978
2011 modern 556 #9,185
2012 modern 527 #9,497
2013 modern 531 #9,597
2014 modern 534 #9,613
2015 modern 521 #9,722
2016 modern 521 #9,701

Geography

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Where Horleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Radford Semele, London parishes, Toddington and Newdigate. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Warwick, Purbeck, Flintshire, Hambleton and Old Town, Princes Street and Leith Street. 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 Radford Semele Warwickshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Toddington Bedfordshire
5 Newdigate Surrey

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Warwick 015 Warwick
2 Purbeck 002 Purbeck
3 Flintshire 009 Flintshire
4 Hambleton 008 Hambleton
5 Old Town, Princes Street and Leith Street City of Edinburgh

Forenames

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First names often paired with Horley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Horley

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Horley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Horley household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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, Horley 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

Horley 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

Horley falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Horley 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 Horley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Horley

The surname Horley finds its origins in England, particularly in the regions of Surrey and Oxfordshire. The name is believed to date back to the medieval period, with its earliest roots stemming from Old English. The name is derived from two Old English words: "horu," meaning dirt or muddy, and "leah," meaning clearing or meadow. Thus, the name Horley can be interpreted to mean "clearing in a muddy area" or "muddy meadow."

One of the earliest references to the name can be found in historical records and manuscripts from the Domesday Book of 1086, where a place named Horley in Oxfordshire is mentioned. This mention indicates the presence of settlements with the name, suggesting that the surname was geographically linked to these areas. Additionally, the name appears in various spellings over time, such as Horlegh, Horleigh, and Horly.

The earliest recorded example of the surname Horley dates back to the 13th century. In 1275, Richard de Horlegh is mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire. This record highlights the medieval use of the surname and its connection to specific locations in England.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the surname Horley. Robert Horley (born 1455) is a notable figure, recognized in local historical records of Surrey. Another significant mention is of Thomas Horley, who was a prominent landowner in Oxfordshire during the late 15th century.

In the 16th century, John Horley (1520–1590) emerged as a distinguished name in the records of London, associated with the city's mercantile activities. A more recent historical figure is William Horley, an 18th-century land surveyor known for his contributions to cartographic documentation in Oxfordshire.

During the 19th century, James Horley (1820–1885) gained recognition as an agricultural innovator, bringing advancements to farming practices in the Surrey area. His impact was notable enough to be recorded in contemporary journals and agricultural records of the time.

The surname Horley carries a rich history linked to specific locations in England, with variations in spelling reflecting its evolution over centuries. The individuals bearing this surname have made noteworthy contributions in various areas, thereby cementing the Horley name in historical records.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Horley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Horley 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. Surrey leads with 126 Horleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.76x.

County Total Index
Surrey 126 3.76x
Middlesex 123 1.79x
Warwickshire 95 5.48x
Bedfordshire 57 16.01x
Lancashire 45 0.55x
Hampshire 29 2.06x
Yorkshire 23 0.34x
Cheshire 20 1.32x
Montgomeryshire 19 12.06x
Sussex 18 1.55x
Nottinghamshire 15 1.62x
Glamorgan 14 1.17x
Hertfordshire 13 2.74x
Staffordshire 13 0.56x
Essex 12 0.88x
Gloucestershire 12 0.89x
Oxfordshire 12 2.83x
Devon 9 0.63x
Worcestershire 9 1.00x
Buckinghamshire 8 1.92x
Kent 8 0.34x
Monmouthshire 5 1.01x
Shropshire 5 0.84x
Derbyshire 3 0.28x
Lincolnshire 3 0.27x
Durham 2 0.10x
Herefordshire 2 0.71x
Northamptonshire 2 0.31x
Lanarkshire 1 0.05x
Norfolk 1 0.09x
Stirlingshire 1 0.39x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Toddington in Bedfordshire leads with 41 Horleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 802.35x.

Place Total Index
Toddington 41 802.35x
Leamington Priors 32 74.98x
Camberwell 31 7.06x
Radford Semele 23 1755.73x
Newdigate 16 1019.11x
Lambeth 15 2.50x
West Derby 15 6.28x
South Stoneham 13 42.51x
Islington London 12 1.80x
St Luke London 11 9.97x
Bloxham 10 240.38x
Bristol St Augustine 10 45.93x
Broxbourne 10 106.38x
Harrow 10 95.15x
Bethnal Green London 9 3.01x
Cardiff St Mary 9 13.64x
Millbrook 9 25.35x
St Pancras London 9 1.63x
Charlwood 8 249.22x
Dartmouth St Petrox 8 388.35x
Horsham 8 35.52x
St George Martyr London 8 57.43x
Trentham 8 40.53x
Trewern 8 952.38x
Birkenhead 7 5.78x
Ealing 7 11.39x
Leamington 7 60.92x
Methley 7 72.92x
Pool 7 58.87x
Rotherhithe 7 8.24x
Rusper 7 551.18x
Sutton 7 28.88x
Armley 6 19.96x
Birmingham 6 1.04x
Dorking 6 26.67x
Horton In Bradford 6 5.64x
Leatherhead 6 71.51x
Liverpool 6 1.21x
Luton 6 9.73x
Mile End Old Town London 6 4.10x
Nottingham St Mary 6 2.50x
Penge 6 13.66x
Sefton 6 666.67x
Selston 6 57.97x
Shoreditch London 6 2.01x
Twinstead 6 1276.60x
Bedwellty 5 5.70x
Eaton Socon 5 89.45x
Epsom 5 30.62x
Kings Norton 5 6.21x
Over 5 32.40x
Paddington London 5 1.98x
Pendlebury 5 29.02x
St Giles In Fields London 5 14.82x
Chelsea London 4 1.93x
Croydon 4 2.15x
Guilsfield 4 69.81x
Hammersmith London 4 2.36x
Harbury 4 141.84x
Kirkdale 4 2.91x
Runcorn 4 11.43x
Shrewsbury St Chad 4 19.18x
Stockton 4 246.91x
Woolwich 4 4.61x
Alvechurch 3 78.53x
Aylesbury 3 16.29x
Bromley London 3 1.98x
Dunstable 3 27.42x
Farnworth 3 6.14x
Fulham London 3 3.01x
Harborne 3 4.03x
Kenilworth 3 30.67x
Mickleham 3 159.57x
Offchurch 3 394.74x
Portsea 3 1.09x
Southwark Christchurch 3 9.31x
Stoke Newington London 3 5.60x
Ufton 3 638.30x
Wilne 3 121.95x
Wooburn 3 52.36x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 41
John 36
Thomas 27
Edward 25
George 21
Henry 15
James 13
Alfred 11
Richard 11
Frederick 10
Joseph 9
Charles 7
Frank 6
Harry 6
Arthur 5
Samuel 5
Walter 5
Benjamin 4
Ernest 4
Thos. 4
Edwin 3
Robert 3
Willm. 3
Wm. 3
Cyril 2
Engelbert 2
Francis 2
Major 2
Nicholas 2
Patrick 2
Phillip 2
Sidney 2
Stephen 2
Tom 2
Albert 1
Andrew 1
Chars. 1
Claude 1
Edwerd 1
Enoch 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Jasper 1
Jesse 1
Jno. 1
Job 1
Josiah 1
Kimberwell 1
Leopold 1
Lewis 1

FAQ

Horley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Horley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 704 people were recorded with the Horley surname. That placed it at #5,166 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Horley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 521 in 2016. That gives Horley a modern rank of #9,701.

What does the Horley surname mean?

Of English origin, a locational surname referring to someone from the town of Horley in Surrey.

What does the Horley map show?

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