NameCensus.

UK surname

Isley

Derived from a place name meaning "island clearing" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 134 people recorded with the Isley surname, ranking it #16,602 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 93, ranked #31,945, down from #16,602 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Trowbridge, London parishes and Battersea. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Redcar and Cleveland, Middlesbrough and Thurrock.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Isley is 181 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 30.6%.

1881 census count

134

Ranked #16,602

Modern count

93

2016, ranked #31,945

Peak year

1891

181 bearers

Map years

5

1881 to 1998

Key insights

  • Isley had 134 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,602 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 93 in 2016, ranked #31,945.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 181 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Isley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Isley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Isley 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 86 #18,820
1861 historical 96 #21,648
1881 historical 134 #16,602
1891 historical 181 #16,065
1901 historical 152 #17,916
1911 historical 116 #20,850
1997 modern 153 #20,868
1998 modern 135 #23,118
1999 modern 124 #24,508
2000 modern 126 #24,220
2001 modern 109 #26,059
2002 modern 113 #26,024
2003 modern 101 #27,561
2004 modern 101 #27,813
2005 modern 95 #28,817
2006 modern 96 #28,946
2007 modern 93 #29,777
2008 modern 94 #29,950
2009 modern 94 #30,538
2010 modern 100 #30,225
2011 modern 102 #29,759
2012 modern 90 #31,790
2013 modern 97 #31,239
2014 modern 95 #31,792
2015 modern 92 #32,075
2016 modern 93 #31,945

Geography

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Where Isleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Trowbridge, London parishes, Battersea and Stockton-on-Tees (Stockton-on-Tees), Stainton (Thornaby ), Norton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Redcar and Cleveland, Middlesbrough, Thurrock, Bedford and Fenland. 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 Trowbridge Wiltshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Battersea London (South Districts)
4 London parishes London 2
5 Stockton-on-Tees (Stockton-on-Tees), Stainton (Thornaby ), Norton Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Redcar and Cleveland 007 Redcar and Cleveland
2 Middlesbrough 006 Middlesbrough
3 Thurrock 002 Thurrock
4 Bedford 020 Bedford
5 Fenland 004 Fenland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Isley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Isley

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Isley is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Isley 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

Isley falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Isley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Isley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Isley

The surname Isley has its origins in England, with roots tracing back to the Anglo-Saxon era. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "isil" or "iseld," meaning "iron" or "iron worker." The name likely emerged as an occupational surname given to those who worked as blacksmiths or ironmongers.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Iseleia" in Hampshire, England. This entry suggests that the name may have initially been associated with a specific location or settlement before evolving into a hereditary surname.

During the Middle Ages, variations of the name appeared in various historical records, including the Pipe Rolls of 1166, which mention a "Robertus Iseley," and the Rotuli Hundredorum of 1275, where a "Johannes de Iseley" is listed. These records indicate that the name was well-established in different parts of England by this time.

In the 14th century, the name Isley appeared in the form "Iseleye" in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327. This spelling variation highlights the fluidity of surnames during that era, as they often reflected local dialects and scribal interpretations.

Notable individuals bearing the Isley surname throughout history include:

1. William Isley (c. 1480 - c. 1550), an English merchant and benefactor who funded the construction of almshouses in Sawtry, Huntingdonshire. 2. John Isley (1682 - 1768), an English philosopher and writer who authored several works on moral philosophy and natural theology. 3. Eleanor Isley (1719 - 1804), a pioneering English educator who established one of the first schools for girls in London. 4. Robert Isley (1832 - 1901), a British explorer and naturalist known for his expeditions to the Amazon rainforest and his contributions to the study of South American flora and fauna. 5. Arthur Isley (1870 - 1942), a renowned English architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

While the Isley surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to various parts of the world, with descendants carrying on the legacy of this historically significant name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Isley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Isley 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. Huntingdonshire leads with 27 Isleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 104.81x.

County Total Index
Huntingdonshire 27 104.81x
Surrey 23 3.64x
Middlesex 16 1.23x
Wiltshire 15 13.07x
Durham 12 3.11x
Norfolk 11 5.51x
Lancashire 7 0.45x
Yorkshire 7 0.54x
Berkshire 4 4.11x
Cambridgeshire 4 4.87x
Northamptonshire 3 2.46x
Derbyshire 1 0.49x
Fife 1 1.30x
Hampshire 1 0.38x
Sussex 1 0.46x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Upwood in Huntingdonshire leads with 11 Isleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 7333.33x.

Place Total Index
Upwood 11 7333.33x
Ramsey 10 485.44x
Trowbridge 10 197.24x
Norwich St Peter Mancroft 7 700.00x
Everton 6 12.23x
Huntingdon All Sts 6 3333.33x
Thornaby 6 125.00x
Swindon 5 56.18x
Battersea 4 8.38x
Camberwell 4 4.83x
Croydon 4 11.40x
Limehouse London 4 28.09x
Whitton 4 1333.33x
Wisbech St Peter 4 97.09x
Gateshead 3 10.38x
Hammersmith London 3 9.39x
Lambeth 3 2.65x
Newbury 3 96.15x
Newington 3 6.26x
Auckland St Helen 2 487.80x
Bromley London 2 7.01x
Didlington 2 5000.00x
Northwold 2 377.36x
Peterborough 2 22.65x
St Giles In Fields London 2 31.45x
Stoke 2 67.11x
Tottenham 2 9.68x
Ashborne 1 72.46x
Bishopwearmouth 1 3.02x
Chilton Candover 1 1428.57x
Chorley 1 11.57x
Clapham 1 6.17x
Enfield 1 11.75x
Kettering 1 20.24x
New Shoreham 1 76.34x
Putney 1 16.92x
Seaham 1 70.92x
Southwark St Saviour 1 14.99x
St Andrew Holborn London 1 17.79x
St Andrews 1 28.65x
Stockton On Tees 1 5.37x
Stoke Newington London 1 9.89x
West Swallowfield 1 217.39x
Whitby 1 23.09x

FAQ

Isley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Isley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 134 people were recorded with the Isley surname. That placed it at #16,602 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Isley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 93 in 2016. That gives Isley a modern rank of #31,945.

What does the Isley surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "island clearing" in Old English.

What does the Isley map show?

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