NameCensus.

UK surname

Linsley

From the Old English words "lin", meaning lake or pool, and "leah", meaning meadow or clearing.

In the 1881 census there were 456 people recorded with the Linsley surname, ranking it #7,255 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 525, ranked #9,654, down from #7,255 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Cockfield, Gateshead and Auckland St Andrew. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, South Tyneside and Scarborough.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Linsley is 660 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 15.1%.

1881 census count

456

Ranked #7,255

Modern count

525

2016, ranked #9,654

Peak year

1911

660 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Linsley had 456 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,255 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 525 in 2016, ranked #9,654.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 660 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Linsley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Linsley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Linsley 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 302 #7,606
1861 historical 418 #6,146
1881 historical 456 #7,255
1891 historical 528 #7,101
1901 historical 512 #7,918
1911 historical 660 #6,361
1997 modern 578 #8,362
1998 modern 585 #8,533
1999 modern 578 #8,652
2000 modern 565 #8,761
2001 modern 572 #8,561
2002 modern 568 #8,764
2003 modern 547 #8,872
2004 modern 522 #9,218
2005 modern 511 #9,297
2006 modern 508 #9,369
2007 modern 513 #9,393
2008 modern 518 #9,388
2009 modern 507 #9,743
2010 modern 535 #9,571
2011 modern 531 #9,524
2012 modern 519 #9,617
2013 modern 525 #9,675
2014 modern 533 #9,627
2015 modern 518 #9,761
2016 modern 525 #9,654

Geography

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Where Linsleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Cockfield, Gateshead, Auckland St Andrew, Bishop Wearmouth and Middlesborough. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham, South Tyneside and Scarborough. 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 Cockfield Durham
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Auckland St Andrew Durham
4 Bishop Wearmouth Durham
5 Middlesborough Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 064 County Durham
2 South Tyneside 009 South Tyneside
3 South Tyneside 007 South Tyneside
4 Scarborough 001 Scarborough
5 South Tyneside 015 South Tyneside

Forenames

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First names often paired with Linsley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Linsley

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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Inner London Working Professionals

Within London, Linsley is most associated with areas classed as Inner London Working Professionals, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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

These primarily Inner London neighbourhoods are more densely populated than the Supergroup average. Residents have a younger over-all age profile than the Supergroup as a whole, and are less likely to be owner occupiers. Full time employment is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup and multiple car ownership is uncommon. Chinese and non-EU-born European migrants are less in evidence than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Linsley 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

Linsley falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Linsley

The surname Linsley originates from England and dates back to the Norman Conquest of 1066. It is derived from the Old English words "lind," meaning lime tree, and "leah," meaning a woodland clearing or meadow. The name likely referred to someone who lived near a lime tree clearing or settlement.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Linsley can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners and their estates commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appeared in various spellings such as "Lindeslai" and "Lindesleie."

During the 12th century, the name Linsley was documented in various places across England, including Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, and Derbyshire. The earliest known bearer of the name was Robert de Lindeslai, who was recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1176.

In the 13th century, the Linsley family was well-established in the village of Linsley, located in Staffordshire. This village likely took its name from the family, and the surname became closely associated with this area.

One notable figure with the surname Linsley was Sir John Linsley (c. 1450-1522), a prominent landowner and member of the gentry in Staffordshire. He served as Sheriff of Staffordshire in 1492 and played a significant role in local affairs during the reign of Henry VII.

Another historical figure was Thomas Linsley (1594-1665), an English clergyman and Puritan minister. He was a prominent figure during the English Civil War and served as a chaplain in the Parliamentary army.

In the 18th century, William Linsley (1720-1799) was a successful merchant and landowner in Liverpool. He amassed a considerable fortune through his business dealings and became a prominent figure in the city's mercantile community.

During the 19th century, Edward Linsley (1813-1887) was a notable English architect who designed several churches and public buildings in London and the surrounding areas.

Finally, one of the most famous individuals with the Linsley surname was Sir Joseph Linsley (1865-1940), a British industrialist and philanthropist. He founded the Linsley Engineering Company, which played a crucial role in the development of the automotive industry in the early 20th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Linsley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Linsley 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 193 Linsleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.58x.

County Total Index
Durham 193 14.58x
Yorkshire 142 3.22x
Lancashire 46 0.87x
Northumberland 31 4.68x
Middlesex 14 0.31x
Surrey 10 0.46x
Somerset 6 0.84x
Wiltshire 5 1.27x
Suffolk 3 0.55x
Cheshire 2 0.20x
Hampshire 2 0.22x
Glamorgan 1 0.13x
Norfolk 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. Cockfield in Durham leads with 24 Linsleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1297.30x.

Place Total Index
Cockfield 24 1297.30x
Evenwood Barony 17 377.78x
Middlesbrough 15 26.13x
Sculcoates 15 21.47x
Leeds 14 5.62x
Tudhoe 14 120.90x
Bishopwearmouth 12 10.56x
Brandon Byshottles 12 72.38x
Holy Trinity 12 11.32x
Westoe 11 14.66x
Wolviston 11 1195.65x
Darlington 10 19.57x
Cramlington 9 102.86x
Eccleshill 9 83.88x
Marton In Middlesbrough 9 559.01x
Ripon 9 87.98x
Wigan 9 12.20x
Barnsley 8 17.60x
Crook Billy Row 8 47.20x
Haswell 8 84.39x
Brightside Bierlow 7 8.10x
Ditton 7 324.07x
East Chevington 7 318.18x
Ferryhill 7 151.19x
Farnworth 6 18.98x
Framwellgate 6 76.53x
New Malton 6 113.85x
Poplar London 6 7.15x
Salford 6 3.87x
Wallsend 6 28.59x
West Auckland 6 123.97x
Wolsingham 6 49.75x
Boldon 5 105.93x
Hilperton 5 400.00x
Hook 5 51.55x
Middle Hulton 5 159.74x
Nafferton 5 265.96x
Shildon 5 47.04x
Tynemouth 5 14.11x
Bathwick 4 50.51x
Harpurhey 4 54.57x
Hutton Henry 4 143.37x
Lambeth 4 1.03x
Luttons Ambo 4 434.78x
Newington 4 2.43x
North Shields 4 30.28x
Blacktoft 3 588.24x
Bromley London 3 3.07x
Hackney London 3 1.20x
Lowestoft 3 11.72x
Monk Bretton 3 67.26x
Newton Cap 3 146.34x
Sherburn 3 74.44x
Sunderland Bridge 3 142.86x
Whickham 3 24.63x
Withington 3 17.65x
Appleton 2 90.09x
Armley 2 10.29x
Croydon 2 1.66x
East Rainton 2 78.13x
Goole 2 27.06x
Hunslet 2 2.91x
Manchester 2 0.84x
North Bedburn 2 54.05x
Ormesby 2 16.88x
Sherburn House 2 666.67x
St George Bloomsbury 2 7.84x
Walcot 2 5.25x
Widnes 2 5.25x
Witton Gilbert 2 38.31x
Aughton 1 19.12x
Emswell Cum Kellythorpe 1 384.62x
Holbeck 1 3.42x
Keighley 1 2.13x
Kingstonupon Hull 1 28.33x
Kirby Grindalyth 1 250.00x
Kirk Ella 1 185.19x
Sherfield Upon Loddon 1 102.04x
Skelton In Guisbrough 1 8.39x
Witton Le Wear 1 26.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 32
Jane 23
Elizabeth 15
Sarah 14
Ann 12
Alice 9
Isabella 9
Annie 8
Ellen 7
Hannah 7
Margaret 6
Emma 4
Margret 4
Catherine 3
Emily 3
Georgina 3
Harriet 3
Lucy 3
Martha 3
Agnes 2
Anne 2
Drusilla 2
Edith 2
Eliza 2
Fanny 2
Frances 2
Kate 2
Amey 1
Amy 1
Caroline 1
Charlote 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Dorothy 1
Elisa 1
Eliz. 1
Elizth. 1
Elizth.A. 1
Ellenor 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Isabell 1
Isabelle 1
Jessie 1
Joanna 1
Juleary 1
L.M. 1
Lettitia 1
Lilley 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 39
William 27
Thomas 25
George 20
Robert 13
Joseph 12
James 11
Arthur 6
Edward 6
Henry 5
Charles 4
Francis 4
Frederick 4
Jonathan 3
Samuel 3
Thos. 3
Walter 3
Christopher 2
Daniel 2
Frank 2
Harry 2
Tom 2
Wm. 2
Andrew 1
Archibald 1
Benjamin 1
Edwin 1
Fredric 1
Geo.Atha 1
Harrison 1
Holburn 1
Isaac 1
Jacob 1
Johnathon 1
Jonathon 1
Josep 1
Leonard 1
Levi 1
Mark 1
Matthew 1
Owen 1
Parkinson 1
Peter 1
Ralph 1
Robt. 1
Rueben 1
Septimus 1
Thos.Parkinson 1
Thos.W. 1
Warner 1

FAQ

Linsley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Linsley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 456 people were recorded with the Linsley surname. That placed it at #7,255 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Linsley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 525 in 2016. That gives Linsley a modern rank of #9,654.

What does the Linsley surname mean?

From the Old English words "lin", meaning lake or pool, and "leah", meaning meadow or clearing.

What does the Linsley map show?

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