NameCensus.

UK surname

Housley

An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "holly wood or clearing."

In the 1881 census there were 720 people recorded with the Housley surname, ranking it #5,060 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,259, ranked #4,748, up from #5,060 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Fulwood and Sheffield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sheffield, Ashfield and Doncaster.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Housley is 1,379 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 74.9%.

1881 census count

720

Ranked #5,060

Modern count

1,259

2016, ranked #4,748

Peak year

2010

1,379 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Housley had 720 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,060 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,259 in 2016, ranked #4,748.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,216 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Housley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Housley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Housley 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 522 #4,805
1861 historical 489 #5,336
1881 historical 720 #5,060
1891 historical 799 #5,033
1901 historical 1,047 #4,576
1911 historical 1,216 #3,886
1997 modern 1,281 #4,453
1998 modern 1,317 #4,508
1999 modern 1,355 #4,426
2000 modern 1,352 #4,422
2001 modern 1,321 #4,429
2002 modern 1,345 #4,452
2003 modern 1,340 #4,371
2004 modern 1,343 #4,374
2005 modern 1,286 #4,476
2006 modern 1,307 #4,425
2007 modern 1,325 #4,409
2008 modern 1,322 #4,446
2009 modern 1,344 #4,479
2010 modern 1,379 #4,459
2011 modern 1,368 #4,438
2012 modern 1,314 #4,523
2013 modern 1,324 #4,573
2014 modern 1,308 #4,649
2015 modern 1,281 #4,697
2016 modern 1,259 #4,748

Geography

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Where Housleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Fulwood, Sheffield, Selston and Ecclesfield (Ecclesfield), Rotherham (Dalton), Conisborough. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sheffield, Ashfield, Doncaster and Amber Valley. 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 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
2 Sutton-in-Ashfield, Fulwood Nottinghamshire
3 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Selston Nottinghamshire
5 Ecclesfield (Ecclesfield), Rotherham (Dalton), Conisborough Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sheffield 003 Sheffield
2 Ashfield 011 Ashfield
3 Doncaster 010 Doncaster
4 Amber Valley 004 Amber Valley
5 Sheffield 004 Sheffield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Housley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Housley

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

Housley is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Housley falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Housley

The surname Housley originated in England and can be traced back to the early 13th century. It is derived from the Old English words 'hol' meaning 'hollow' and 'leah' meaning 'meadow' or 'clearing'. The name likely referred to someone who lived in or near a meadow situated in a hollow or valley.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Housley can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which were administrative records compiled in England during the reign of King Edward I. In these rolls, the name appears as 'de Holesleye', reflecting the Old English origin.

The Housley surname is also found in the famous Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings across England and parts of Wales commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name is recorded as 'Holesleia' and 'Holesleie' in this important historical document.

During the Middle Ages, the name Housley was primarily concentrated in the counties of Yorkshire and Derbyshire in northern England. Over time, variations in spelling emerged, including Holsley, Houlsley, and Howsley, reflecting regional dialects and inconsistent record-keeping practices.

Notable individuals throughout history who bore the surname Housley include:

1. John Housley (c. 1350-1425), an English cleric and scholar who served as the Chancellor of the University of Cambridge. 2. Sir Robert Housley (1575-1645), an English landowner and Member of Parliament during the reign of King Charles I. 3. Elizabeth Housley (1683-1762), a prominent Quaker minister and writer from Yorkshire. 4. Samuel Housley (1791-1867), a British inventor and engineer who patented several innovations in textile machinery. 5. William Housley (1835-1911), a successful industrialist and philanthropist from Derbyshire who founded the Housley Charity Trust.

The surname Housley is also associated with various place names, such as Housley Park in Derbyshire and Housley Village in Yorkshire, further reinforcing its geographic origins.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Housley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Housley 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. Yorkshire leads with 197 Housleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.80x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 197 2.80x
Nottinghamshire 157 16.40x
Lancashire 145 1.72x
Derbyshire 101 9.08x
Cheshire 40 2.55x
Lincolnshire 22 1.94x
Staffordshire 13 0.54x
Glamorgan 11 0.89x
Lanarkshire 10 0.44x
Middlesex 9 0.13x
Isle of Man 7 5.31x
Leicestershire 6 0.76x
Surrey 5 0.14x
Sussex 2 0.17x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.22x
Durham 1 0.05x
Kent 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ecclesfield in Yorkshire leads with 67 Housleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 129.85x.

Place Total Index
Ecclesfield 67 129.85x
Selston 67 626.75x
Ashton Under Lyne 45 24.43x
Ecclesall Bierlow 23 16.07x
Sheffield 23 10.27x
Greasley 22 101.85x
Monyash 17 1752.58x
Sutton In Ashfield 17 81.85x
Brightside Bierlow 16 11.59x
Wigan 15 12.74x
Nether Hallam 14 14.70x
Cardiff St Mary 11 16.15x
Hyde 11 23.78x
Ripley 11 80.06x
Wombwell 11 53.61x
Cambuslang 10 43.20x
South Normanton 10 128.04x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 9 13.73x
Mansfield Woodhouse 9 141.29x
Nottingham St Mary 9 3.64x
Stone 9 29.35x
Alfreton 8 23.68x
Denby 8 210.53x
Donington 8 196.08x
Great Meolse 8 816.33x
Long Eaton 8 54.50x
Newton 8 12.32x
Newton In Ashton Under 8 51.71x
Radcliffe 8 19.69x
Annesley 7 194.44x
Basford 7 15.87x
Everton 7 2.61x
Kirkdale 7 4.94x
Stanton 7 378.38x
Toxteth Park 7 2.45x
Blackwell 6 109.89x
Kearsley 6 33.84x
Osmaston 6 659.34x
Patrick 6 93.31x
Pilkington 6 18.74x
Sculcoates 6 5.38x
Syston 6 81.41x
Beswick 5 23.20x
Blackburn 5 2.23x
Bowling 5 7.17x
Brinsworth 5 153.37x
Camberwell 5 1.10x
Chorlton On Medlock 5 3.74x
Crich 5 68.87x
Stockport 5 6.20x
Barnsley 4 5.51x
Dukinfield 4 5.52x
Glossop Dale 4 7.68x
Heanor 4 24.05x
Martin In Sleaford 4 201.01x
Moss Side 4 9.02x
Paddington London 4 1.53x
Radford 4 8.23x
Stayley 4 22.32x
Withington 4 14.73x
Hartington Town Quarter 3 285.71x
Kirkby In Ashfield 3 29.30x
Pennington In Leigh 3 18.55x
Wellow 3 337.08x
Wolstanton 3 4.12x
Bradfield 2 7.37x
Buxton 2 21.25x
Hampstead London 2 1.81x
Holbeach 2 15.81x
Lofthouse Cum Carlton 2 23.31x
Middleton In Oldham 2 7.91x
Nottingham St Nicholas 2 15.34x
Oldham 2 0.74x
St George Martyr London 2 13.91x
Winster 2 98.52x
Billinghay 1 28.57x
Caunton 1 101.01x
Little Hale 1 113.64x
Roxholme 1 344.83x
St Martin Lincoln 1 9.49x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 45
Elizabeth 32
Sarah 29
Ann 24
Hannah 16
Eliza 13
Martha 13
Emma 10
Jane 9
Ellen 7
Margaret 7
Ada 6
Alice 6
Annie 6
Emily 6
Harriet 6
Ruth 5
Clara 4
Fanny 4
Frances 4
Lydia 4
Rebecca 4
Caroline 3
Charlotte 3
Maria 3
Agnes 2
Bertha 2
Betty 2
Dorothy 2
Edith 2
Kate 2
Lilly 2
Lucy 2
Rachel 2
Susannah 2
Tabitha 2
Amy 1
Carstine 1
Catharine 1
Dinah 1
Elen 1
Elisabeth 1
Ellenor 1
Harriett 1
Julia 1
Lavinia 1
Letitia 1
Lilian 1
Lily 1
Zilver 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 59
John 51
George 34
Thomas 24
James 21
Joseph 20
Samuel 14
Arthur 11
Henry 10
Walter 9
Robert 7
Stephen 7
Albert 6
Frank 6
Benjamin 5
Charles 5
Edwin 5
Harry 4
Herbert 3
Jarvis 3
Matthew 3
Bernard 2
Edward 2
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Frederick 2
Geo. 2
Mark 2
Matthias 2
Richard 2
Thos. 2
Tom 2
Wilfred 2
Wm. 2
Alexander 1
Benj. 1
Chas. 1
Cornelius 1
Cristopher 1
Cruest 1
Fred 1
Fredk.Hy. 1
Fredrick 1
Freeman 1
Geo.W. 1
Jacob 1
Jas.Hy. 1
Jeremiah 1
Joe 1
Jonathan 1

FAQ

Housley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Housley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 720 people were recorded with the Housley surname. That placed it at #5,060 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Housley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,259 in 2016. That gives Housley a modern rank of #4,748.

What does the Housley surname mean?

An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "holly wood or clearing."

What does the Housley map show?

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