UK surname
A locational surname originating from a place called Kirley.
In the 1881 census there were 77 people recorded with the Kirley surname, ranking it #22,617 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 61, ranked #34,287, down from #22,617 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kirley is 324 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 20.8%.
1881 census count
77
Ranked #22,617
Modern count
61
2016, ranked #34,287
Peak year
1891
324 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Kirley surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Kirley surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 119 | #15,247 |
| 1861 | historical | 237 | #10,359 |
| 1881 | historical | 77 | #22,617 |
| 1891 | historical | 324 | #10,453 |
| 1901 | historical | 179 | #16,227 |
| 1911 | historical | 283 | #11,883 |
| 1997 | modern | 59 | #31,734 |
| 1998 | modern | 53 | #32,633 |
| 1999 | modern | 58 | #32,268 |
| 2000 | modern | 60 | #32,124 |
| 2001 | modern | 55 | #32,482 |
| 2002 | modern | 57 | #32,661 |
| 2003 | modern | 60 | #32,446 |
| 2004 | modern | 53 | #33,336 |
| 2005 | modern | 55 | #33,349 |
| 2006 | modern | 62 | #33,043 |
| 2007 | modern | 63 | #33,243 |
| 2008 | modern | 66 | #33,217 |
| 2009 | modern | 63 | #33,751 |
| 2010 | modern | 62 | #34,069 |
| 2011 | modern | 62 | #34,045 |
| 2012 | modern | 62 | #34,155 |
| 2013 | modern | 62 | #34,260 |
| 2014 | modern | 62 | #34,281 |
| 2015 | modern | 60 | #34,361 |
| 2016 | modern | 61 | #34,287 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff | Gloucestershire |
| 2 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars | Leicestershire |
| 5 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Kirley surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Kirley, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Kirley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Kirley household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Kirley is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kirley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Kirley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Kirley is of Irish origin and dates back to the 16th century. It is derived from the Gaelic word "ciaraidhe," which means "dark" or "black-haired people." The name was initially found in the counties of Cork and Kerry, where it was a common surname among families in those regions.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns, a collection of documents from the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. In this record, dated 1586, a person named John Kirley is mentioned as a landowner in County Cork.
Another notable early reference to the name can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the 17th century. In this text, the name Kirley is spelled "Ó Ciaraidhe," reflecting its Gaelic roots.
The Kirley surname is also associated with several place names in Ireland, such as Kirley Bog and Kirley Bridge, both located in County Cork. These place names likely emerged from the presence of Kirley families in those areas.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Kirley. One of the earliest was Donough Kirley (c. 1580-1645), a Catholic priest and author from County Cork who wrote extensively on religious matters during the 17th century.
Another prominent figure was Edward Kirley (1688-1758), an Irish-born merchant and landowner who settled in Virginia, United States, in the early 18th century. He played a significant role in the development of the American colony and was a member of the House of Burgesses.
In more recent times, Michael Kirley (1886-1962) was an Irish politician and member of the Fianna Fáil party who served as a Member of Parliament in the early 20th century.
Other noteworthy individuals with the Kirley surname include Patrick Kirley (1823-1890), an Irish-born architect who designed several notable buildings in New York City, and James Kirley (1884-1958), an Irish-American labor leader who was influential in the early 20th century labor movement.
While the Kirley name has its roots in Ireland, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through emigration to countries like the United States, Canada, and Australia.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kirley surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 23 Kirleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.10x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 23 | 3.10x |
| Durham | 13 | 5.90x |
| Hampshire | 10 | 6.58x |
| Surrey | 7 | 1.94x |
| Lancashire | 6 | 0.68x |
| Argyllshire | 5 | 24.24x |
| Berkshire | 2 | 3.60x |
| Devon | 2 | 1.30x |
| Wiltshire | 2 | 3.05x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 0.27x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 0.86x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.68x |
| Nottinghamshire | 1 | 1.00x |
| Sussex | 1 | 0.80x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bethnal Green London in Middlesex leads with 11 Kirleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.16x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bethnal Green London | 11 | 34.16x |
| Lanchester | 8 | 2000.00x |
| Christchurch | 5 | 151.98x |
| Holdenhurst | 5 | 125.63x |
| Kilmore Kilbride | 5 | 381.68x |
| Lambeth | 5 | 7.74x |
| Dawdon | 4 | 147.60x |
| Kensington London | 3 | 7.28x |
| Enfield | 2 | 41.15x |
| Limehouse London | 2 | 24.57x |
| West Derby | 2 | 7.77x |
| Winkfield | 2 | 217.39x |
| Aspull | 1 | 48.31x |
| Birkdale | 1 | 44.84x |
| Brighton | 1 | 3.97x |
| Camberwell | 1 | 2.11x |
| Cheetham | 1 | 15.24x |
| Church Gresley | 1 | 54.05x |
| Clerkenwell London | 1 | 5.72x |
| Cowpen Bewley | 1 | 400.00x |
| East Stonehouse | 1 | 32.89x |
| Ewell | 1 | 131.58x |
| Hulme | 1 | 5.45x |
| Islington London | 1 | 1.39x |
| Leeds | 1 | 2.41x |
| Nottingham St Nicholas | 1 | 73.53x |
| Semley | 1 | 588.24x |
| St George In East London | 1 | 14.35x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 1.68x |
| Warminster | 1 | 69.44x |
| West Ham | 1 | 3.10x |
| Westminster St James | 1 | 13.12x |
| Withycombe Rawleigh | 1 | 125.00x |
| York St Mary | 1 | 32.89x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Kirley surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Kirley surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Kirley households.
FAQ
In 1881, 77 people were recorded with the Kirley surname. That placed it at #22,617 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 61 in 2016. That gives Kirley a modern rank of #34,287.
A locational surname originating from a place called Kirley.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Kirley bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.