NameCensus.

UK surname

Jelley

An English surname likely derived from a nickname referring to a jovial or jolly person.

In the 1881 census there were 780 people recorded with the Jelley surname, ranking it #4,753 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,339, ranked #4,502, up from #4,753 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Stoke-next-Guildford, London parishes and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Blaby, Harborough and Waverley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Jelley is 1,482 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 71.7%.

1881 census count

780

Ranked #4,753

Modern count

1,339

2016, ranked #4,502

Peak year

1911

1,482 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Jelley had 780 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,753 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,339 in 2016, ranked #4,502.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,482 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Jelley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Jelley surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Jelley 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 540 #4,666
1861 historical 429 #5,989
1881 historical 780 #4,753
1891 historical 889 #4,632
1901 historical 1,035 #4,621
1911 historical 1,482 #3,250
1997 modern 1,387 #4,165
1998 modern 1,405 #4,260
1999 modern 1,420 #4,255
2000 modern 1,419 #4,243
2001 modern 1,398 #4,224
2002 modern 1,412 #4,269
2003 modern 1,348 #4,352
2004 modern 1,382 #4,276
2005 modern 1,352 #4,306
2006 modern 1,381 #4,239
2007 modern 1,387 #4,256
2008 modern 1,381 #4,300
2009 modern 1,427 #4,273
2010 modern 1,440 #4,314
2011 modern 1,407 #4,341
2012 modern 1,362 #4,399
2013 modern 1,376 #4,435
2014 modern 1,388 #4,423
2015 modern 1,364 #4,438
2016 modern 1,339 #4,502

Geography

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Where Jelleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Stoke-next-Guildford, London parishes, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars and Alderton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Blaby, Harborough, Waverley, Cheshire West and Chester and Chichester. 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 Stoke-next-Guildford Surrey
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire
5 Alderton Northamptonshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Blaby 013 Blaby
2 Harborough 005 Harborough
3 Waverley 013 Waverley
4 Cheshire West and Chester 006 Cheshire West and Chester
5 Chichester 007 Chichester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Jelley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Jelley

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Jelley is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Jelley is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Jelley falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Jelley

The surname Jelley originated in England during the medieval period, specifically in the counties of Somerset and Devon. It is derived from the Old English word "gēlēwe," which means "yellow," and was likely given as a nickname to someone with yellow or blonde hair.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Jelley can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Somerset from 1327, where it appears as "Gelew." This suggests that the name had already been established and in use by the 14th century.

In the 16th century, the Jelley surname appeared in various records in the counties of Somerset and Devon, with spellings such as "Jelly," "Jelley," and "Gelly." These variations were common due to the inconsistent spelling conventions of the time.

The first recorded person with the surname Jelley was John Jelley, who was born in Somerset around 1450. Another early bearer of the name was William Jelley, born in Devon in 1520.

During the 17th century, the Jelley family spread to other parts of England, particularly to the counties of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire. In 1662, a notable figure named Thomas Jelley was born in Gloucestershire. He was a respected landowner and contributed to the local community.

In the 18th century, the Jelley surname gained prominence in the village of Ilchester, Somerset. One of the most notable individuals from this era was Samuel Jelley, born in 1745, who was a successful merchant and philanthropist.

As the centuries passed, the Jelley surname continued to be found throughout England, with families settling in various regions. Other notable individuals with this surname include:

1. Richard Jelley (1788-1865), a prominent lawyer and legal scholar from Gloucestershire. 2. Emily Jelley (1842-1912), a respected educator and advocate for women's rights from Somerset. 3. William Jelley (1872-1946), a renowned architect from Devon who designed several notable buildings in the region. 4. James Jelley (1902-1988), a distinguished physicist from Wiltshire who made significant contributions to the field of solid-state physics. 5. Margaret Jelley (1923-2010), a celebrated author and poet from Somerset, known for her works celebrating the rural landscape and traditions of the county.

These examples illustrate the diverse backgrounds and achievements of individuals bearing the surname Jelley throughout the centuries, reflecting the rich history and heritage associated with this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Jelley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Jelley 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. Surrey leads with 180 Jelleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.84x.

County Total Index
Surrey 180 4.84x
Leicestershire 165 19.48x
Northamptonshire 88 12.25x
Middlesex 78 1.02x
Warwickshire 45 2.34x
Kent 40 1.53x
Hampshire 19 1.21x
Lincolnshire 19 1.56x
Nottinghamshire 17 1.65x
Yorkshire 17 0.22x
Worcestershire 15 1.50x
Lancashire 13 0.14x
Bedfordshire 11 2.78x
Gloucestershire 8 0.53x
Sussex 8 0.62x
Isle of Man 7 4.94x
Norfolk 7 0.60x
Northumberland 6 0.53x
Essex 5 0.33x
Staffordshire 5 0.19x
Buckinghamshire 4 0.87x
Cheshire 4 0.24x
Herefordshire 4 1.28x
Rutland 4 7.13x
Durham 3 0.13x
Huntingdonshire 2 1.32x
Somerset 2 0.16x
Suffolk 2 0.22x
Berkshire 1 0.17x
Cumberland 1 0.15x
Derbyshire 1 0.08x
Devon 1 0.06x
Shropshire 1 0.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leicester St Margaret in Leicestershire leads with 32 Jelleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.50x.

Place Total Index
Leicester St Margaret 32 15.50x
Guildford Holy Trinity 26 366.71x
Woking 23 102.54x
Arthingworth 22 4583.33x
Alderton 20 6451.61x
Wandsworth 20 27.20x
Coventry Holy Trinity 19 33.04x
Gumley 19 3114.75x
Mansfield 15 42.10x
Husbands Bosworth 13 599.08x
Plumstead 13 14.96x
Hammersmith London 12 6.38x
Battersea 11 3.91x
Shere 11 244.44x
Worplesdon 11 244.99x
Bedford St Paul 10 36.86x
Poplar London 10 6.94x
Guildford St Mary 9 196.51x
Oldbury 9 18.34x
Stoke 9 51.25x
Belgrave 8 41.86x
Chelsea London 8 3.48x
Deptford St Paul 8 3.98x
Goadby 8 2962.96x
Guilsborough 8 421.05x
Lambeth 8 1.20x
Southwark St George Martyr 8 5.20x
Barwell 7 156.25x
Coventry St Michael 7 11.31x
Croft 7 463.58x
Guildford St Nicholas 7 106.38x
Kensington London 7 1.65x
Leamington 7 54.86x
Leicester All Sts 7 42.09x
Leicester St Mary 7 10.23x
Mangotsfield 7 46.89x
Merton 7 107.53x
Onchan 7 17.13x
Portsea 7 2.28x
Scraptoft 7 2187.50x
Shoreditch London 7 2.11x
Smeeton 7 686.27x
Woolwich 7 7.27x
Greenwich 6 4.93x
Hampstead London 6 5.04x
Horsell 6 255.32x
Islington London 6 0.81x
Kingston On Thames 6 6.71x
Little Claybrooke 6 387.10x
Longbenton 6 12.47x
Narborough 6 258.62x
Northampton St Sepulchre 6 16.42x
Cottesbach 5 1020.41x
Dartford 5 18.76x
Ewhurst 5 214.59x
Leicester St Leonard 5 62.34x
Market Harborough 5 130.55x
Northampton St Giles 5 18.27x
Rotherham 5 11.72x
Salford 5 1.88x
Southampton St Mary 5 5.08x
Stamford All Sts 5 73.10x
Wolverhampton 5 2.52x
Yarwell 5 500.00x
Broadwater 4 13.54x
Clipston 4 219.78x
Hereford St Owen 4 38.68x
Milverton 4 70.80x
Monks Coppenhall 4 6.29x
Northowram 4 7.54x
Spittlegate 4 23.68x
St Nicholas Lincoln 4 34.28x
Tinwell 4 677.97x
Witley 4 152.67x
Wotton 4 220.99x
Great Bowden 3 38.96x
Limehouse London 3 3.58x
Newington 3 14.40x
Norwich St Paul 3 42.67x
Tottenham 3 2.47x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 64
Sarah 37
Elizabeth 30
Eliza 19
Emma 16
Annie 15
Ann 14
Jane 14
Ellen 11
Alice 10
Maria 9
Emily 7
Kate 7
Martha 7
Clara 6
Caroline 5
Hannah 5
Harriett 5
Catherine 4
Fanny 4
Florence 4
Louisa 4
Lucy 4
Susan 4
Agnes 3
Beatrice 3
Charlotte 3
Elizth. 3
Harriet 3
Henrietta 3
Rhoda 3
Rose 3
Rosina 3
Ada 2
Amelia 2
Amy 2
Anne 2
Eliz. 2
Esther 2
Ethel 2
Frances 2
Ida 2
Maryann 2
Matilda 2
Minnie 2
Elizth.Francis 1
Emiley 1
Fanney 1
Isabella 1
Theresa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 59
John 53
George 35
Thomas 32
James 18
Henry 16
Joseph 14
Arthur 13
Alfred 12
Albert 11
Charles 11
Edward 11
Frederick 8
Walter 8
Richard 7
Robert 6
Frank 5
Christopher 4
Edwin 4
Harry 4
Herbert 4
Samuel 4
Wm. 4
Benjamin 2
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Fred 2
Fredrick 2
Robt. 2
Stephen 2
Barzilica 1
Celiam 1
Chas. 1
Clement 1
Daniel 1
Elisha 1
Emma 1
Fredr.A. 1
Horace 1
Hugh 1
Hy. 1
Infant 1
Jim 1
Job 1
Lawrence 1
Reginald 1
Richd. 1
Rueben 1
Shepley 1
Sidney 1

FAQ

Jelley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Jelley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 780 people were recorded with the Jelley surname. That placed it at #4,753 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Jelley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,339 in 2016. That gives Jelley a modern rank of #4,502.

What does the Jelley surname mean?

An English surname likely derived from a nickname referring to a jovial or jolly person.

What does the Jelley map show?

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