NameCensus.

UK surname

Kirkley

From a place name meaning "church clearing" in Old English, referring to a meadow near a church.

In the 1881 census there were 365 people recorded with the Kirkley surname, ranking it #8,506 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 330, ranked #13,765, down from #8,506 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Gateshead, Monkwearmouth and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bradford, Harrogate and Bury.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kirkley is 593 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 9.6%.

1881 census count

365

Ranked #8,506

Modern count

330

2016, ranked #13,765

Peak year

1911

593 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kirkley had 365 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,506 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 330 in 2016, ranked #13,765.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 593 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Kirkley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kirkley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kirkley 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 380 #6,284
1861 historical 370 #6,899
1881 historical 365 #8,506
1891 historical 511 #7,296
1901 historical 496 #8,098
1911 historical 593 #6,904
1997 modern 378 #11,474
1998 modern 388 #11,612
1999 modern 385 #11,771
2000 modern 367 #12,153
2001 modern 360 #12,127
2002 modern 384 #11,794
2003 modern 366 #12,010
2004 modern 366 #12,053
2005 modern 366 #11,964
2006 modern 366 #12,042
2007 modern 364 #12,237
2008 modern 368 #12,238
2009 modern 378 #12,248
2010 modern 395 #12,105
2011 modern 371 #12,546
2012 modern 333 #13,468
2013 modern 335 #13,604
2014 modern 327 #13,976
2015 modern 327 #13,871
2016 modern 330 #13,765

Geography

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Where Kirkleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Gateshead, Monkwearmouth, Manchester, Warsill, Ripon (Newby-with-Mulwith, Ripon) and Bishop Wearmouth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bradford, Harrogate, Bury and South Tyneside. 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 Gateshead Durham
2 Monkwearmouth Durham
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Warsill, Ripon (Newby-with-Mulwith, Ripon) Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Bishop Wearmouth Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bradford 058 Bradford
2 Harrogate 004 Harrogate
3 Bury 001 Bury
4 South Tyneside 011 South Tyneside
5 Bury 021 Bury

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kirkley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kirkley

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Kirkley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Kirkley household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Kirkley 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

Kirkley is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kirkley falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Kirkley

The surname Kirkley is of English origin, derived from an Old English place name that means "church lea" or "church meadow." The first recorded instances of the name date back to the 11th century in counties like Norfolk, Suffolk, and Lincolnshire.

One of the earliest documented references to the surname Kirkley can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Chircheleie" and "Chirchelai." These entries indicate that the name was already established in specific locations within England.

The name Kirkley is closely associated with the village of Kirkley in Suffolk, which was first mentioned in the Domesday Book as "Cherchelie." This village likely served as the primary source for the surname, with early bearers originating from or residing in this area.

In the 13th century, records show a William de Kirkley who held lands in Norfolk and Suffolk. Another notable early bearer of the name was John Kirkley, a member of the English Parliament who represented Lincolnshire in 1327.

During the 16th century, the surname Kirkley gained prominence through individuals like Sir William Kirkley (c. 1505-1573), a wealthy merchant and landowner in Suffolk. Sir William's son, Edward Kirkley (1546-1613), was a prominent lawyer and served as the Recorder of Ipswich.

Other notable individuals with the surname Kirkley include the English poet and author John Kirkley (1682-1743), known for his satirical works, and Thomas Kirkley (1702-1786), a renowned clockmaker and watchmaker from Nottinghamshire.

In the 19th century, Joseph Kirkley (1811-1885) was a prominent English architect responsible for designing several notable buildings, including the Town Hall in Nottingham and the Charing Cross Hotel in London.

Throughout its history, the surname Kirkley has maintained a strong presence in various regions of England, particularly in the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire. While variations in spelling have occurred over time, the name's connection to the Old English "church lea" has remained consistent.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kirkley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kirkley 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. Durham leads with 139 Kirkleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.16x.

County Total Index
Durham 139 13.16x
Yorkshire 64 1.82x
Lancashire 61 1.45x
Northumberland 48 9.09x
Middlesex 13 0.37x
Nottinghamshire 13 2.72x
Cheshire 10 1.28x
Huntingdonshire 4 5.67x
Hertfordshire 2 0.82x
Lincolnshire 2 0.35x
Surrey 2 0.12x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.30x
Cardiganshire 1 1.15x
Derbyshire 1 0.18x
Dorset 1 0.43x
Essex 1 0.14x
Shropshire 1 0.33x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Gateshead in Durham leads with 32 Kirkleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 40.46x.

Place Total Index
Gateshead 32 40.46x
Westoe 28 46.76x
Salford 18 14.53x
Upper Stonebeck 13 3823.53x
Ripon 12 147.06x
Wallsend 12 71.64x
Ovington 11 6111.11x
Chorlton On Medlock 10 14.94x
Barton Upon Irwell 9 28.37x
Bishopwearmouth 9 9.93x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 9 19.67x
Hyde 9 38.91x
Longbenton 9 40.21x
Sawley In Ripon 9 2000.00x
Stretford 9 38.83x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 8 25.36x
Norton 8 206.19x
Worksop 8 56.38x
Calton 6 8571.43x
Monw Wearmouth Shore 6 594.06x
Tudhoe 6 64.94x
Ardwick 5 13.16x
High Coniscliffe 5 1162.79x
Newcastle On Tyne St 5 18.26x
Benwell 4 69.32x
Boldon 4 106.10x
Chelsea London 4 3.74x
Kearsley 4 45.10x
Monkhill 4 5714.29x
Piercebridge 4 1600.00x
St George Hanover Square 4 6.39x
Yaxley 4 242.42x
Aismunderby Cum 3 303.03x
Brandon Byshottles 3 22.68x
Broughton In Salford 3 7.79x
Costock 3 789.47x
Houghton Le Spring 3 41.10x
Sunderland 3 16.08x
Burradon In Tynemouth 2 148.15x
Coundon 2 46.73x
Elswick 2 4.74x
Hexham 2 24.45x
High Low Bishopside 2 64.10x
Horton In Bradford 2 3.64x
Medomsley 2 40.57x
North Bailey South 2 377.36x
Nottingham St Mary 2 1.62x
Poplar London 2 2.98x
Sherburn 2 62.31x
St Albans 2 39.92x
St Giles 2 30.35x
Aberystwith 1 13.40x
Alfreton 1 5.92x
Colchester St Giles 1 14.43x
Crook Billy Row 1 7.39x
Croydon 1 1.04x
Darlington 1 2.45x
Hackney London 1 0.50x
Hilton 1 769.23x
Jesmond 1 13.46x
Lanchester 1 51.55x
Leatherhead 1 23.09x
Manchester 1 0.53x
Motcombe 1 58.48x
North Meols 1 2.42x
North Shields 1 9.49x
Sale 1 10.40x
Scarborough 1 3.13x
Skipton 1 9.03x
St Maryle Wigford 1 22.68x
St Marylebone London 1 0.53x
St Nicholas 1 500.00x
St Pancras London 1 0.35x
Stanhope 1 9.17x
Stranton 1 2.81x
Tanfield 1 7.96x
Thornton Le Fen 1 238.10x
W Felton 1 76.92x
Westgate 1 3.06x
Whitworth 1 12.94x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 25
Elizabeth 21
Sarah 14
Jane 13
Ann 10
Margaret 10
Emma 7
Ellen 5
Alice 4
Annie 4
Emily 4
Hannah 3
Isabel 3
Isabella 3
Charlotte 2
Louisa 2
Maria 2
Barbara 1
Beatrice 1
Bell 1
Caroline 1
Catharine 1
Cecilia 1
Clara 1
Dorothy 1
Edith 1
Eliza 1
Esibla 1
Ester 1
Esth 1
Esther 1
Euphemia 1
Florance 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Georgina 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Harriot 1
Harrit 1
Hilda 1
Janet 1
Jenney 1
Jessie 1
Josephine 1
Lillie 1
Lily 1
Lizzie 1
M. 1
Tryphema 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Robert 23
William 22
George 18
John 16
Joseph 14
James 13
Thomas 11
Anthony 4
Richard 4
Charles 3
Ralph 3
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
Edward 2
Frank 2
Fred 2
Harry 2
Hugh 2
J. 2
Matthew 2
Peter 2
Stephen 2
Thos. 2
Albert 1
Amon 1
Andrew 1
Berham 1
Daniel 1
Easton 1
Edmund 1
Edwd. 1
Edwin 1
Geo. 1
Godfrey 1
Henry 1
Herbert 1
Isaac 1
Ivan 1
Jno.Edw. 1
Joshua 1
Luiza 1
Mark 1
Mathew 1
Nicholas 1
Percy 1
Sam 1
Thompson 1
W.S. 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Kirkley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kirkley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 365 people were recorded with the Kirkley surname. That placed it at #8,506 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kirkley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 330 in 2016. That gives Kirkley a modern rank of #13,765.

What does the Kirkley surname mean?

From a place name meaning "church clearing" in Old English, referring to a meadow near a church.

What does the Kirkley map show?

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