NameCensus.

UK surname

Ladley

An English locational surname derived from places named with the Old English "leadlēah" meaning pasture or clearing.

In the 1881 census there were 188 people recorded with the Ladley surname, ranking it #13,379 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 294, ranked #14,953, down from #13,379 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Stockport, Hunsdon and Alford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Lincolnshire, Cheshire East and Tameside.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ladley is 317 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 56.4%.

1881 census count

188

Ranked #13,379

Modern count

294

2016, ranked #14,953

Peak year

1998

317 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ladley had 188 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,379 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 294 in 2016, ranked #14,953.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 245 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Ladley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ladley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ladley 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 120 #15,144
1861 historical 177 #13,265
1881 historical 188 #13,379
1891 historical 190 #15,486
1901 historical 244 #13,329
1911 historical 245 #13,084
1997 modern 314 #13,136
1998 modern 317 #13,392
1999 modern 309 #13,697
2000 modern 311 #13,588
2001 modern 307 #13,539
2002 modern 316 #13,532
2003 modern 311 #13,501
2004 modern 300 #13,871
2005 modern 284 #14,306
2006 modern 286 #14,322
2007 modern 304 #13,927
2008 modern 302 #14,069
2009 modern 306 #14,218
2010 modern 315 #14,223
2011 modern 296 #14,729
2012 modern 299 #14,537
2013 modern 307 #14,522
2014 modern 308 #14,571
2015 modern 301 #14,727
2016 modern 294 #14,953

Geography

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Where Ladleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Stockport, Hunsdon, Alford, Manchester and Batley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Lincolnshire, Cheshire East, Tameside and Wakefield. 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 Stockport Cheshire
2 Hunsdon Hertfordshire
3 Alford Lincolnshire
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Batley Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Lincolnshire 001 North Lincolnshire
2 Cheshire East 041 Cheshire East
3 Tameside 012 Tameside
4 Cheshire East 044 Cheshire East
5 Wakefield 021 Wakefield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ladley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ladley

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

Ladley 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

Ladley falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Ladley

The surname Ladley has its origins in England, with the earliest known records dating back to the 12th century. The name is believed to be derived from the Old English word "lad," meaning a path or way, and the suffix "-ley," which refers to a clearing or meadow. This suggests that the name may have originally been given to someone who lived near a meadow or clearing along a path or road.

One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Nottinghamshire from 1196, which mention a person named Richard de Ladeley. This indicates that the surname was already in use by the late 12th century and may have originated in the region of Nottinghamshire.

In the 13th century, the name appears in various forms, such as Ladelay, Lade Ley, and Ladeleye, reflecting the variations in spelling that were common during that time. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 mention a Robert de Ladeleye in Shropshire, suggesting that the name had spread to other parts of England by this period.

The Ladley surname has also been associated with several place names, such as Ladley Hill in Staffordshire and Ladley Farm in Worcestershire, further indicating its geographical roots in different parts of England.

One notable figure bearing the Ladley surname was John Ladley, born in 1625 in Staffordshire. He was a prominent Puritan preacher and author, known for his work "The Way to Happiness" published in 1671.

Another individual of note was Richard Ladley, born in 1678 in Derbyshire. He was a successful merchant and landowner, and his family estate, Ladley Hall, still stands today in the village of Ladley.

In the 18th century, the name appears in various records, such as the baptismal records of St. Mary's Church in Nottingham, which mention the baptism of Thomas Ladley in 1723.

The Ladley surname also found its way across the Atlantic, with individuals such as William Ladley, who was born in England in 1760 and later emigrated to Virginia, United States, in the late 18th century.

Throughout its history, the surname Ladley has been associated with various occupations, including farmers, merchants, clergymen, and landowners. Its prevalence in different regions of England and its appearance in various historical records attest to its enduring legacy as an English surname with deep roots in the country's history and geography.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ladley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ladley 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. Lincolnshire leads with 70 Ladleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.87x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 70 23.87x
Yorkshire 47 2.59x
Lancashire 27 1.24x
Hertfordshire 12 9.49x
Middlesex 7 0.38x
Derbyshire 4 1.39x
Northumberland 4 1.47x
Surrey 4 0.45x
Durham 3 0.55x
Suffolk 3 1.34x
Lanarkshire 2 0.34x
Brecknockshire 1 2.73x
Essex 1 0.28x
Hampshire 1 0.27x
Huntingdonshire 1 2.75x
Sussex 1 0.32x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Morley in Yorkshire leads with 21 Ladleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 222.22x.

Place Total Index
Morley 21 222.22x
Hunslet 14 49.40x
Hulme 11 24.21x
Huttoft 8 2105.26x
Theddlethorpe All Sts 8 3809.52x
Great Grimsby 7 37.61x
Hunsdon 7 2121.21x
Scamblesby 7 3043.48x
Tathwell 7 2692.31x
Alford 6 329.67x
Leeds 6 5.85x
Stanstead Abbots 5 649.35x
Church Gresley 4 87.53x
Droylsden 4 56.34x
Gayton Le Marsh 4 2500.00x
Liverpool 4 3.03x
Mavis Enderby 4 4444.44x
Scotter 4 597.01x
Westgate 4 23.67x
Manchester 3 3.07x
Rumburgh 3 1304.35x
Stockton On Tees 3 11.41x
Wath On Dearne 3 82.64x
Worsley 3 22.37x
Beddington 2 57.80x
Frithville Boston Sibsey 2 1052.63x
Govan 2 1.36x
Heighington 2 425.53x
Isleworth 2 24.54x
Keelby 2 425.53x
Mexborough 2 55.40x
Saleby Cum Thoresthorpe 2 2222.22x
West Ashby 2 800.00x
Barking 1 9.44x
Basingstoke 1 23.15x
Bermondsey 1 1.83x
Bethnal Green London 1 1.26x
Crumpsall 1 19.49x
Great Gransden 1 250.00x
Headingley Cum Burley 1 8.55x
Horkstow 1 588.24x
Kensington London 1 0.98x
Layton With Warbreck 1 12.53x
Llansaint Fread 1 769.23x
Louth 1 14.88x
Newhaven 1 39.84x
Newington 1 1.48x
Paddington London 1 1.48x
South Thoresby 1 1000.00x
St Luke London 1 3.40x
St Mark Lincoln 1 158.73x
Strubby 1 555.56x
Teddington London 1 24.10x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 15
Eliza 9
Elizabeth 9
Ann 7
Emma 4
Sarah 4
Annie 3
Margaret 3
Martha 3
Susan 3
Anne 2
Catherine 2
Ellen 2
Frances 2
Hannah 2
Jane 2
Louisa 2
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Betsy 1
Charlotte 1
Eleanor 1
Emily 1
Esther 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Hanah 1
Helena 1
Honney 1
L.E. 1
M. 1
Maria 1
Nell 1
Phoebe 1
Rebecca 1
Susanna 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 14
George 12
John 11
Joseph 9
Thomas 8
James 5
Charles 4
Henry 3
Benjamin 2
Amos 1
Chas. 1
Francis 1
Frederick 1
Geo. 1
Herbert 1
Jas. 1
Jas.W.H.N. 1
Josh. 1
Lincoln 1
Mark 1
Revis 1
Richard 1
Robert 1
Robt. 1
Sam 1
Stephen 1
Sydney 1
Walter 1
Willie 1
Wilson 1
Wm. 1
Wm.Francis 1
Wright 1

FAQ

Ladley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ladley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 188 people were recorded with the Ladley surname. That placed it at #13,379 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ladley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 294 in 2016. That gives Ladley a modern rank of #14,953.

What does the Ladley surname mean?

An English locational surname derived from places named with the Old English "leadlēah" meaning pasture or clearing.

What does the Ladley map show?

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