NameCensus.

UK surname

Ilsley

Location surname derived from the village of Ilsley in Berkshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 406 people recorded with the Ilsley surname, ranking it #7,880 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 710, ranked #7,628, up from #7,880 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Basingstoke, Basing, Eastrop, Newnham, Nately Scures, Up Nately, Andwell, London parishes and Chieveley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Hampshire, Reading and Fenland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ilsley is 767 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 74.9%.

1881 census count

406

Ranked #7,880

Modern count

710

2016, ranked #7,628

Peak year

2002

767 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ilsley had 406 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,880 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 710 in 2016, ranked #7,628.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 706 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Ilsley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ilsley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ilsley 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 371 #6,410
1861 historical 265 #9,355
1881 historical 406 #7,880
1891 historical 441 #8,197
1901 historical 579 #7,261
1911 historical 706 #6,039
1997 modern 694 #7,298
1998 modern 734 #7,226
1999 modern 737 #7,244
2000 modern 740 #7,183
2001 modern 759 #6,927
2002 modern 767 #6,999
2003 modern 750 #7,018
2004 modern 755 #6,988
2005 modern 746 #6,997
2006 modern 752 #6,972
2007 modern 733 #7,186
2008 modern 724 #7,295
2009 modern 730 #7,393
2010 modern 748 #7,387
2011 modern 722 #7,518
2012 modern 707 #7,550
2013 modern 718 #7,593
2014 modern 730 #7,534
2015 modern 714 #7,606
2016 modern 710 #7,628

Geography

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Where Ilsleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Basingstoke, Basing, Eastrop, Newnham, Nately Scures, Up Nately, Andwell, London parishes, Chieveley and Birmingham Town: Birmingham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Hampshire, Reading, Fenland and Herefordshire. 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 Basingstoke, Basing, Eastrop, Newnham, Nately Scures, Up Nately, Andwell Hampshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Chieveley Berkshire
4 London parishes London 2
5 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Hampshire 003 East Hampshire
2 Reading 006 Reading
3 Fenland 006 Fenland
4 Reading 017 Reading
5 Herefordshire 005 Herefordshire, County of

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ilsley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ilsley

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Ilsley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Ilsley household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Ilsley 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

Ilsley 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

Ilsley falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Ilsley

The surname Ilsley originated in England and has its roots dating back to the 12th century. It is a locational name derived from the village of Ilsley, located in Berkshire, England. The name is believed to have evolved from the Old English words "iles" meaning "island" and "leah" meaning "woodland clearing."

The earliest recorded mention of the name Ilsley can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Berkshire from 1176, where it appears as "de Ildesleye." This spelling variation suggests that the name was initially associated with the village's residents or landowners.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in the Feet of Fines records for Berkshire, further solidifying its connection to the local area. One notable individual from this time was Richard de Ildesleye, who served as a knight and landowner in Berkshire during the reign of King Henry III.

By the 14th century, the name had evolved to its modern spelling of Ilsley, as evidenced by records in the Subsidy Rolls for Berkshire from 1327. During this period, John Ilsley, a prominent merchant from Reading, played a significant role in the local economy.

In the 16th century, the Ilsley family established themselves as landed gentry in Berkshire and surrounding areas. Sir Henry Ilsley (1508-1572) was a notable figure who served as a Member of Parliament and held the position of High Sheriff of Berkshire.

The 17th century saw the rise of another prominent individual bearing the Ilsley name, Sir John Ilsley (1610-1684). He was a wealthy landowner and served as a Member of Parliament for Berkshire during the English Civil War, supporting the Parliamentarian cause.

Throughout history, the Ilsley surname has been associated with various place names, including Ilsley Court in Berkshire, a manor house that was once part of the Ilsley family's estates. Additionally, the surname has been recorded with variations such as Illsley, Ildesley, and Ildesleigh.

While the Ilsley surname has its origins in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and exploration. Notable individuals with this surname include Thomas Ilsley (1788-1854), an English-born soldier and explorer who served in the British Army and became a prominent figure in the settlement of Western Australia.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ilsley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ilsley 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. Berkshire leads with 98 Ilsleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.97x.

County Total Index
Berkshire 98 32.97x
Hampshire 97 11.95x
Middlesex 58 1.46x
Warwickshire 35 3.50x
Staffordshire 18 1.35x
Lancashire 17 0.36x
Surrey 15 0.78x
Buckinghamshire 13 5.43x
Essex 8 1.02x
Wiltshire 8 2.28x
Sussex 7 1.05x
Cambridgeshire 5 1.99x
Cornwall 5 1.12x
Gloucestershire 5 0.64x
Oxfordshire 4 1.64x
Kent 3 0.22x
Suffolk 3 0.62x
Huntingdonshire 2 2.54x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.37x
Derbyshire 1 0.16x
Worcestershire 1 0.19x
Yorkshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Basingstoke in Hampshire leads with 32 Ilsleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 342.61x.

Place Total Index
Basingstoke 32 342.61x
Birmingham 25 7.51x
Sherborne St John 23 2643.68x
Reading St Mary 18 75.60x
Chieveley 17 1075.95x
Acton 15 64.60x
Basing 11 723.68x
Hornsey 11 21.96x
Reading St Giles 11 37.72x
St Pancras London 11 3.45x
Aston 10 3.64x
Great Marlow 9 139.32x
Sherfield Upon Loddon 9 1034.48x
Speen 9 185.19x
Streatley 9 1022.73x
Brighton 7 5.20x
Kirkdale 7 8.86x
Oldham 7 4.62x
Thatcham 7 152.84x
Tipton 7 17.10x
Swindon 6 22.08x
West Ham 6 3.48x
Wolverhampton 6 5.84x
Aston Tirrold 5 1190.48x
Bassingbourn 5 135.50x
Chelsea London 5 4.19x
Cheltenham 5 8.34x
Falmouth 5 31.51x
Monk Sherborne 5 781.25x
Shaw Cum Donnington 5 526.32x
Bethnal Green London 4 2.33x
Lambeth 4 1.16x
Newbury 4 42.02x
Upton Cum Chalvey 4 41.93x
Westminster St John 4 8.29x
Yateley 4 259.74x
Bury St Edmunds St James 3 23.29x
Camberwell 3 1.19x
Caversham 3 61.35x
Ealing 3 8.48x
Newington 3 2.05x
Rochester St Margaret 3 21.05x
West Swallowfield 3 212.77x
Wigan 3 4.57x
Wootton St Lawrence 3 222.22x
Buckden 2 140.85x
Hampstead Norris 2 106.95x
Kingston On Thames 2 4.32x
Mortimer 2 140.85x
Salisbury St Edmund 2 35.59x
Selston 2 33.56x
Stafford St Mary 2 10.57x
Yattendon 2 476.19x
Ardington 1 192.31x
Ashampstead 1 212.77x
Checkendon 1 192.31x
Compton 1 116.28x
East Ham 1 6.89x
Epsom 1 10.64x
Farleigh Wallop 1 714.29x
Fulham London 1 1.74x
Gate Fulford 1 10.92x
Grays Thurrock 1 13.76x
Hannington 1 263.16x
Hartley Wintney 1 40.98x
Heston 1 7.60x
Hopton Coton 1 52.91x
Kingsclere 1 26.95x
Melbourne 1 23.58x
Mortimer West End 1 192.31x
Newnham 1 204.08x
Overton 1 51.55x
Portsmouth 1 5.35x
Southwark St Saviour 1 4.91x
St Faith Winchester 1 26.46x
Tilehurst 1 16.64x
Wednesfield 1 5.08x
Westminster St James 1 2.46x
Westminster St Margaret 1 5.24x
Worcester Blockhouse 1 35.21x

FAQ

Ilsley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ilsley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 406 people were recorded with the Ilsley surname. That placed it at #7,880 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ilsley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 710 in 2016. That gives Ilsley a modern rank of #7,628.

What does the Ilsley surname mean?

Location surname derived from the village of Ilsley in Berkshire, England.

What does the Ilsley map show?

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