NameCensus.

UK surname

Jolley

A habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "joyful clearing" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 1,575 people recorded with the Jolley surname, ranking it #2,687 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,762, ranked #2,431, up from #2,687 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Wigan and Ecton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kettering, Wigan and Blackburn with Darwen.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Jolley is 2,984 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 75.4%.

1881 census count

1,575

Ranked #2,687

Modern count

2,762

2016, ranked #2,431

Peak year

1999

2,984 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Jolley had 1,575 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,687 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,762 in 2016, ranked #2,431.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,522 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Small Town Suburbia.

Jolley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Jolley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Jolley 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 825 #3,273
1861 historical 1,061 #2,647
1881 historical 1,575 #2,687
1891 historical 1,542 #2,861
1901 historical 2,033 #2,631
1911 historical 2,522 #2,027
1997 modern 2,787 #2,309
1998 modern 2,916 #2,312
1999 modern 2,984 #2,276
2000 modern 2,903 #2,320
2001 modern 2,853 #2,304
2002 modern 2,918 #2,310
2003 modern 2,857 #2,301
2004 modern 2,766 #2,372
2005 modern 2,718 #2,378
2006 modern 2,692 #2,399
2007 modern 2,722 #2,396
2008 modern 2,721 #2,417
2009 modern 2,767 #2,428
2010 modern 2,794 #2,451
2011 modern 2,753 #2,455
2012 modern 2,744 #2,430
2013 modern 2,806 #2,421
2014 modern 2,821 #2,422
2015 modern 2,756 #2,452
2016 modern 2,762 #2,431

Geography

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Where Jolleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Wigan, Ecton and Warrington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kettering, Wigan and Blackburn with Darwen. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Wigan Lancashire
3 Ecton Northamptonshire
4 Warrington Lancashire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kettering 011 Kettering
2 Wigan 011 Wigan
3 Blackburn with Darwen 012 Blackburn with Darwen
4 Wigan 008 Wigan
5 Wigan 009 Wigan

Forenames

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First names often paired with Jolley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Jolley

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

Small Town Suburbia

Nationally, the Jolley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Small Town Suburbia, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Jolley 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 is predominantly comprised of married couples with no resident dependent children, living in areas characterised neither by under-occupancy nor overcrowding throughout the UK in or adjacent to small towns. White ethnic groups and affiliation with Christianity predominates. Housing tends to be predominantly semi-detached or detached and workers are employed principally in managerial and professional occupations, with semi-skilled occupations also in evidence. These areas of the Supergroup are of higher population density.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Jolley 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

Jolley 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

Jolley 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 Jolley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Jolley

The surname Jolley is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is likely derived from the Old French personal name "Jollif," which means "cheerful" or "merry." This name was often adopted as a surname by the descendants of those who bore it as a nickname or personal descriptor.

The earliest recorded instances of the Jolley surname can be traced back to the 13th century in various regions of England, including Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire. In some instances, the name appears in historical records with alternative spellings, such as "Jollye" or "Jolly."

One notable early reference to the Jolley name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which recorded individuals for tax purposes. This document mentions a "William Jolie" residing in Cambridgeshire. Additionally, the Subsidy Rolls of 1327 list a "Thomas Joly" in Suffolk.

The Jolley surname was also associated with various locations in England, particularly in areas where the name was prevalent. For example, the village of Jolley in Cheshire may have derived its name from the surname, although the exact connection is unclear.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Jolley surname. One of the earliest recorded was John Jolley (c. 1555-1622), an English Puritan minister who served as the rector of Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk.

Another prominent figure was Thomas Jolley (1629-1703), an English Quaker who emigrated to New Jersey in the late 17th century and became a prominent landowner and businessman in the colony.

In the 18th century, Benjamin Jolley (1732-1809) was an English engraver and portrait painter who worked in London and gained recognition for his skills in mezzotint engraving.

During the Victorian era, Philip Gough Jolley (1809-1868) was a notable English architect who designed several churches and public buildings in various parts of the country.

Lastly, a more recent figure was Sir William Jolley (1876-1959), a British politician and businessman who served as the Lord Mayor of London from 1951 to 1952.

While the Jolley surname has remained relatively uncommon compared to some other English surnames, it has a rich history and can be traced back through various regions of England, with connections to notable individuals throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Jolley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Jolley 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. Lancashire leads with 534 Jolleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.92x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 534 2.92x
Northamptonshire 145 10.02x
Middlesex 109 0.71x
Yorkshire 81 0.53x
Staffordshire 80 1.54x
Cheshire 79 2.32x
Norfolk 61 2.58x
Suffolk 53 2.83x
Essex 50 1.65x
Surrey 45 0.60x
Durham 36 0.79x
Kent 33 0.63x
Cambridgeshire 32 3.28x
Derbyshire 29 1.20x
Huntingdonshire 24 7.85x
Warwickshire 24 0.62x
Worcestershire 23 1.14x
Cornwall 16 0.92x
Buckinghamshire 12 1.29x
Leicestershire 12 0.70x
Nottinghamshire 10 0.48x
Sussex 10 0.39x
Bedfordshire 8 1.00x
Devon 8 0.25x
Hampshire 8 0.25x
Glamorgan 7 0.26x
Northumberland 6 0.26x
Berkshire 5 0.43x
Merionethshire 5 1.78x
Brecknockshire 4 1.30x
Cumberland 4 0.30x
Herefordshire 4 0.63x
Shropshire 4 0.30x
Caernarfonshire 3 0.48x
Dumfriesshire 3 0.88x
Midlothian 3 0.15x
Ayrshire 1 0.09x
Gloucestershire 1 0.03x
Hertfordshire 1 0.09x
Isle of Man 1 0.35x
Lincolnshire 1 0.04x
Oxfordshire 1 0.11x
Royal Navy 1 0.55x
Somerset 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. Wigan in Lancashire leads with 134 Jolleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 52.50x.

Place Total Index
Wigan 134 52.50x
Warrington 65 30.02x
Ince In Makerfield 49 57.65x
Ecton 37 1134.97x
Norton In Moors 30 109.09x
St Andrewthe Less 29 26.03x
Blackrod 28 123.35x
Congleton 27 45.99x
Chatham 26 18.00x
West Ham 22 3.28x
Old Buckenham 20 330.03x
St Pancras London 20 1.61x
Stoke Upon Trent 20 3.63x
Nether Hallam 18 8.72x
Camberwell 17 1.73x
Hackney London 17 1.97x
Northampton St Sepulchre 17 23.08x
Aspull 16 37.24x
Aston 15 1.40x
Runcorn 15 19.15x
Wellingborough 14 19.23x
Dallington 13 152.76x
Lambeth 13 0.97x
North Meols 13 7.27x
Islington London 12 0.80x
Kidderminster Borough 12 10.20x
Widnes 12 9.11x
Brightlingsea 11 63.36x
Derby St Peter 11 14.33x
Hindley 11 14.12x
Hundon 11 235.55x
Monks Coppenhall 11 8.58x
Heath Charnock 10 205.76x
Newton In Makerfield 10 17.88x
Standish With Langtree 10 44.46x
Barton Upon Irwell 9 6.55x
Everton 9 1.55x
Great Bolton 9 3.72x
Ombersley 9 80.36x
Pemberton 9 12.36x
Peterborough 9 8.59x
Ribby With Wray 9 426.54x
Wolverton 9 46.73x
Barlow 8 164.95x
Brotton 8 40.18x
Gazeley 8 181.82x
Great Little Marsden 8 9.56x
Luton 8 5.80x
North Bedburn 8 62.50x
Northampton Priory St 8 9.21x
Redgrave 8 272.11x
Sawtry St Andrew 8 412.37x
Ashton In Makerfield 7 13.46x
Bozeat 7 111.47x
Chingford 7 95.50x
Diss 7 34.50x
Earls Barton 7 56.68x
Glossop Dale 7 6.20x
Great Bradley 7 368.42x
Harborne 7 4.20x
Hulme 7 1.84x
Norton 7 178.12x
Pendleton In Salford 7 3.22x
Ramsey 7 28.61x
Skipton 7 14.58x
Acton 6 6.65x
Blackley 6 18.74x
Byker 6 5.30x
Claughton With Grange 6 38.76x
Haydock 6 19.07x
Heaton Norris 6 5.77x
Lidgate 6 272.73x
Mears Ashby 6 225.56x
Newcastle Under Lyme 6 6.53x
Paddington London 6 1.06x
Padstow 6 51.81x
Sawtry St Judith 6 530.97x
Selston 6 25.90x
Toxteth Park 6 0.97x
Wymondham 6 24.79x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 108
John 105
James 75
Thomas 53
Joseph 44
George 38
Robert 28
Alfred 27
Charles 24
Henry 23
Richard 20
Arthur 17
Edward 12
Samuel 12
Frederick 10
Harry 10
David 9
Frank 9
Thos. 9
Walter 9
Wm. 9
Albert 8
Isaac 7
Benjamin 5
Peter 5
Clement 4
Daniel 4
Edwin 4
Ernest 4
Herbert 4
Matthew 4
Robt. 4
Sidney 4
Tom 4
Andrew 3
Francis 3
Fredrick 3
Jonathan 3
Lewis 3
Ambrose 2
Chas. 2
Edgar 2
Frederic 2
Fredk. 2
Jeremiah 2
Josiah 2
Oliver 2
Ralph 2
Richd. 2
Wm.H.B. 1

FAQ

Jolley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Jolley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,575 people were recorded with the Jolley surname. That placed it at #2,687 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Jolley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,762 in 2016. That gives Jolley a modern rank of #2,431.

What does the Jolley surname mean?

A habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "joyful clearing" in Old English.

What does the Jolley map show?

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