NameCensus.

UK surname

Inkley

An English habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "meadow of the ink makers".

In the 1881 census there were 94 people recorded with the Inkley surname, ranking it #20,467 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 105, ranked #30,114, down from #20,467 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lincoln St Botolph, Wilsford and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Holland, Basingstoke and Deane and Aylesbury Vale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Inkley is 111 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 11.7%.

1881 census count

94

Ranked #20,467

Modern count

105

2016, ranked #30,114

Peak year

1901

111 bearers

Map years

4

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Inkley had 94 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,467 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 105 in 2016, ranked #30,114.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 111 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Inkley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Inkley surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Inkley 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 87 #18,695
1861 historical 70 #24,911
1881 historical 94 #20,467
1891 historical 79 #26,897
1901 historical 111 #21,492
1911 historical 108 #21,736
1997 modern 90 #28,360
1998 modern 92 #28,680
1999 modern 96 #28,326
2000 modern 93 #28,701
2001 modern 93 #28,382
2002 modern 102 #27,596
2003 modern 93 #28,829
2004 modern 104 #27,338
2005 modern 99 #28,177
2006 modern 100 #28,283
2007 modern 100 #28,669
2008 modern 96 #29,654
2009 modern 99 #29,754
2010 modern 103 #29,780
2011 modern 92 #31,301
2012 modern 105 #29,362
2013 modern 102 #30,415
2014 modern 106 #30,030
2015 modern 104 #30,269
2016 modern 105 #30,114

Geography

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Where Inkleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lincoln St Botolph, Wilsford, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Sheffield and Thurlby, Northorpe and Obthorpe. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Holland, Basingstoke and Deane, Aylesbury Vale and Melton. 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 Lincoln St Botolph Lincolnshire
2 Wilsford Lincolnshire
3 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
4 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Thurlby, Northorpe and Obthorpe Lincolnshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Holland 001 South Holland
2 Basingstoke and Deane 005 Basingstoke and Deane
3 Aylesbury Vale 014 Aylesbury Vale
4 Melton 002 Melton
5 South Holland 009 South Holland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Inkley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Inkley

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Inkley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Inkley household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Inkley is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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

These very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Inkley 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

Inkley falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Inkley

The surname "INKLEY" originates from England, with its roots tracing back to the 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "inca," meaning a small island or a meadow, combined with the suffix "-ley," which signifies a clearing or a meadow. This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near or owned a small island or a meadow.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Hearth Tax Returns of 1665, which lists a John Inkley residing in the village of Nether Poppleton, Yorkshire. This record provides valuable insight into the geographic distribution of the name during that period.

In the 17th century, the name "INKLEY" was also found in various parish records, such as baptisms, marriages, and burials. For example, the baptismal record of William Inkley from the village of Elmswell, Suffolk, dates back to 1682, indicating the presence of the surname in that region.

Notably, the name "INKLEY" has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One such figure was Richard Inkley (1640-1712), a renowned mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the field of celestial mechanics. He was born in the village of Staplehurst, Kent, and his work was widely recognized during his lifetime.

Another prominent bearer of the name was Elizabeth Inkley (1792-1868), a pioneering educator who established one of the first schools for girls in the city of Bristol. Her efforts in promoting education for women were highly regarded, and she was instrumental in changing societal attitudes towards female education.

In the 19th century, the name "INKLEY" was also associated with the industrial revolution. Thomas Inkley (1815-1894), a successful industrialist from Birmingham, owned and operated several textile mills, contributing significantly to the local economy and employment opportunities.

Furthermore, the name "INKLEY" has been linked to various place names throughout England. For instance, the village of Inkley Green in Worcestershire is believed to have derived its name from the surname, suggesting a historical connection between the name and the geographic location.

While the surname "INKLEY" may not be among the most common surnames in modern times, its rich history and association with notable individuals and places across England make it a fascinating subject of study in the field of onomatology.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Inkley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Inkley 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. Lincolnshire leads with 45 Inkleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 30.37x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 45 30.37x
Yorkshire 13 1.42x
Kent 8 2.53x
Northamptonshire 8 9.18x
Devon 5 2.59x
Lancashire 4 0.36x
Sussex 3 1.92x
Warwickshire 3 1.28x
Middlesex 2 0.22x
Hampshire 1 0.53x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.80x
Royal Navy 1 9.06x
Surrey 1 0.22x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Gosberton in Lincolnshire leads with 17 Inkleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2575.76x.

Place Total Index
Gosberton 17 2575.76x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 8 93.57x
Barnack 8 4210.53x
Ash Next Sandwich 7 1000.00x
Surfleet 7 2258.06x
Spalding 6 204.08x
Swarby 6 12000.00x
Brightside Bierlow 5 27.76x
Plymouth Charles The 5 58.82x
West Derby 4 12.43x
Aston 3 4.66x
Thurlby Obthorpe 3 1500.00x
Bourn 2 166.67x
Pinchbeck 2 210.53x
Worth 2 176.99x
Grantham 1 51.81x
Lewisham 1 5.93x
Morton In Bourn 1 333.33x
Nottingham St Mary 1 3.10x
Old Artillery Ground 1 125.00x
Ore 1 86.21x
Portsea 1 2.69x
Royal Navy 1 10.59x
St Marylebone London 1 2.02x
Streatham 1 14.53x

FAQ

Inkley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Inkley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 94 people were recorded with the Inkley surname. That placed it at #20,467 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Inkley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 105 in 2016. That gives Inkley a modern rank of #30,114.

What does the Inkley surname mean?

An English habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "meadow of the ink makers".

What does the Inkley map show?

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