UK surname
Of English origin, a habitational surname derived from a place named Hossil or Hossills.
In the 1881 census there were 54 people recorded with the Hosley surname, ranking it #26,009 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 13, ranked #37,278, down from #26,009 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Greenwich, Birstall and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hosley is 199 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 75.9%.
1881 census count
54
Ranked #26,009
Modern count
13
2016, ranked #37,278
Peak year
1861
199 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Hosley surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Hosley surname density by area, 1891 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 | 60 | #22,584 |
| 1861 | historical | 199 | #12,062 |
| 1881 | historical | 54 | #26,009 |
| 1891 | historical | 144 | #18,842 |
| 1901 | historical | 56 | #27,952 |
| 1911 | historical | 68 | #26,050 |
| 1997 | modern | 15 | #36,409 |
| 1998 | modern | 18 | #36,135 |
| 1999 | modern | 10 | #37,072 |
| 2000 | modern | 10 | #37,001 |
| 2001 | modern | 8 | #37,124 |
| 2002 | modern | 7 | #37,379 |
| 2003 | modern | 9 | #37,101 |
| 2004 | modern | 11 | #36,969 |
| 2005 | modern | 12 | #36,936 |
| 2006 | modern | 12 | #37,014 |
| 2007 | modern | 12 | #37,095 |
| 2008 | modern | 11 | #37,270 |
| 2009 | modern | 11 | #37,336 |
| 2010 | modern | 12 | #37,307 |
| 2011 | modern | 12 | #37,287 |
| 2012 | modern | 10 | #37,509 |
| 2013 | modern | 13 | #37,224 |
| 2014 | modern | 12 | #37,355 |
| 2015 | modern | 12 | #37,371 |
| 2016 | modern | 13 | #37,278 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Greenwich, Birstall, Manchester, Batley and Malton, Old. 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 | Greenwich | London (South Districts) |
| 2 | Birstall | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | Batley | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 5 | Malton, Old | Yorkshire, North Riding |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Hosley 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 Hosley, 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 Hosley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Hosley 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, Hosley 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 Hosley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Hosley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname HOSLEY is of English origin, with roots dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated as a locational name, derived from a place called Hoselaw or Hossil, located in the historical county of Northumberland.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the year 1166, where it appears as "Hoscelau." This entry suggests that the name was likely established by the 12th century, if not earlier.
The name is thought to be derived from the Old English words "hos" and "hlaw," meaning "hose" and "hill" respectively. This combination could indicate that the original bearers of the name lived near a hill or elevated land where hose (a type of tights or stockings) were manufactured or sold.
In the Domesday Book of 1086, a record of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror, there is no direct mention of the HOSLEY name. However, variations such as "Hoscelau" and "Hoscelawa" are found, which may have been early precursors to the modern spelling.
Notable individuals bearing the HOSLEY surname throughout history include:
1. John Hosley (c. 1550-1630), an English clergyman and author who wrote on theological topics. 2. William Hosley (1693-1768), a prominent landowner and merchant in colonial Massachusetts. 3. Elizabeth Hosley (1772-1845), a British philanthropist and advocate for women's education. 4. James Hosley (1821-1892), an American Civil War veteran who served in the Union Army. 5. Margaret Hosley (1905-1998), a renowned scholar of Elizabethan literature and professor at Yale University.
While the HOSLEY name may have originated from a specific location, it eventually spread to various parts of England and beyond, as families migrated and established themselves in new areas. The name has endured over centuries, with variations in spelling and pronunciation emerging across different regions and cultures.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hosley 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. Yorkshire leads with 28 Hosleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.36x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 28 | 5.36x |
| Essex | 7 | 6.73x |
| Middlesex | 7 | 1.33x |
| Surrey | 5 | 1.95x |
| Hertfordshire | 3 | 8.26x |
| Lancashire | 3 | 0.48x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.93x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dewsbury in Yorkshire leads with 14 Hosleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 261.68x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Dewsbury | 14 | 261.68x |
| Copt Hewick | 7 | 17500.00x |
| Saffron Walden | 7 | 636.36x |
| Islington London | 6 | 11.75x |
| Send Ripley | 5 | 1515.15x |
| Aldenham | 3 | 909.09x |
| West Derby | 3 | 16.40x |
| Soothill | 2 | 105.82x |
| Chelsea London | 1 | 6.30x |
| Flaxton | 1 | 1428.57x |
| Kilham | 1 | 454.55x |
| Scarborough | 1 | 21.10x |
| South Stoneham | 1 | 42.74x |
| Swinton Broughton In | 1 | 1250.00x |
| Thwing | 1 | 1250.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Hosley 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 Hosley surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 54 people were recorded with the Hosley surname. That placed it at #26,009 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 13 in 2016. That gives Hosley a modern rank of #37,278.
Of English origin, a habitational surname derived from a place named Hossil or Hossills.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Hosley 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.