NameCensus.

UK surname

Lobley

An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "muddy clearing" or "muddy field."

In the 1881 census there were 596 people recorded with the Lobley surname, ranking it #5,868 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 519, ranked #9,736, down from #5,868 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Calverley, Gainsborough, Paddocks and Batley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ryedale, Mendip and North Kesteven.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lobley is 766 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 12.9%.

1881 census count

596

Ranked #5,868

Modern count

519

2016, ranked #9,736

Peak year

1911

766 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lobley had 596 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,868 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 519 in 2016, ranked #9,736.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 766 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Lobley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lobley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lobley 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 429 #5,706
1861 historical 409 #6,283
1881 historical 596 #5,868
1891 historical 649 #5,976
1901 historical 743 #5,985
1911 historical 766 #5,656
1997 modern 626 #7,904
1998 modern 658 #7,834
1999 modern 638 #8,074
2000 modern 624 #8,197
2001 modern 612 #8,164
2002 modern 602 #8,442
2003 modern 594 #8,391
2004 modern 571 #8,629
2005 modern 558 #8,701
2006 modern 553 #8,775
2007 modern 550 #8,905
2008 modern 549 #8,978
2009 modern 555 #9,103
2010 modern 576 #9,036
2011 modern 561 #9,118
2012 modern 537 #9,348
2013 modern 533 #9,574
2014 modern 527 #9,716
2015 modern 514 #9,823
2016 modern 519 #9,736

Geography

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Where Lobleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Calverley, Gainsborough, Paddocks, Batley, Bradford and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ryedale, Mendip, North Kesteven and West Lindsey. 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 Calverley Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Gainsborough, Paddocks Lincolnshire
3 Batley Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ryedale 008 Ryedale
2 Mendip 003 Mendip
3 North Kesteven 001 North Kesteven
4 West Lindsey 004 West Lindsey
5 West Lindsey 007 West Lindsey

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lobley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lobley

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Lobley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Lobley household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Lobley 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

Lobley 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

Lobley 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 Lobley 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 Lobley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Lobley

The surname Lobley is of English origin, with roots dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be a locational surname, derived from the place name "Lobley" in Derbyshire. This place name is composed of the Old English elements "lobbe" meaning a pollard or lopped tree, and "leah" meaning a woodland clearing or meadow.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Lobley can be found in the Assize Rolls of Lancashire from the year 1246, where a certain Henry de Lobelegh is mentioned. The suffix "de" in this early spelling indicates the locational origin of the name.

In the Subsidy Rolls of Derbyshire from 1327, the name appears as "Lobelye," reflecting the evolution of the spelling over time. During the 14th century, the Lobley surname also appears in various manorial records and legal documents from the counties of Derbyshire and Yorkshire.

A notable figure bearing the Lobley surname was Sir Thomas Lobley, a wealthy merchant and landowner who lived in the 16th century. He was born in Dronfield, Derbyshire, around 1520 and played a significant role in the local affairs of his time.

Another prominent individual was John Lobley, a prominent clergyman and author who lived from 1619 to 1688. He was the Rector of Newbold Verdon in Leicestershire and published several religious works during his lifetime.

In the 17th century, the Lobley surname can be found in various parish records and legal documents from the counties of Derbyshire, Yorkshire, and Nottinghamshire. One such example is William Lobley, born in 1642 in Wakefield, Yorkshire, who was a successful merchant and landowner.

The 18th century saw the emergence of Samuel Lobley, a renowned clockmaker who lived from 1732 to 1805. He was based in Nottingham and his clocks are now highly sought after by collectors and antique enthusiasts.

Another notable figure was Elizabeth Lobley, born in 1764 in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. She was a pioneering educator and established one of the first schools for girls in the region, making a significant contribution to the education of women during that era.

While the Lobley surname has its origins in the English counties of Derbyshire and Yorkshire, over the centuries it has spread to various parts of the country and even beyond, reflecting the migration patterns of those bearing this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lobley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lobley 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. Yorkshire leads with 346 Lobleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.98x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 346 5.98x
Lincolnshire 71 7.60x
Lancashire 55 0.79x
Essex 28 2.43x
Durham 26 1.50x
Middlesex 26 0.44x
Nottinghamshire 12 1.52x
Northumberland 10 1.15x
Kent 7 0.35x
Staffordshire 7 0.35x
Leicestershire 4 0.62x
Cheshire 3 0.23x
Royal Navy 2 2.87x
Hertfordshire 1 0.25x
Westmorland 1 0.78x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Batley in Yorkshire leads with 34 Lobleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 61.78x.

Place Total Index
Batley 34 61.78x
Pudsey 29 93.70x
Morley 27 89.70x
Gainsborough 24 108.94x
Leeds 24 7.34x
Bradford 22 15.70x
Calverley Cum Farsley 22 133.82x
Dewsbury 22 37.05x
Armley 18 70.48x
Bethnal Green London 18 7.09x
Manningham 17 23.83x
Tottington Lower End 14 42.49x
West Thurrock 14 365.54x
Hexham 10 74.35x
Kirkdale 10 8.57x
Bigby 9 1250.00x
Everton 9 4.07x
Kexby 9 1384.62x
Blyton 8 567.38x
Corringham 8 536.91x
Darlington 8 11.92x
Hipperholme Cum 8 31.45x
Bingley 7 18.99x
Holy Trinity 7 5.03x
Little Bolton 7 7.85x
Stoke Upon Trent 7 3.35x
Thornton Le Clay 7 1272.73x
Todmorden Walsden 7 37.70x
Clifton In York 6 49.55x
Epping 6 127.93x
Greenwich 6 6.45x
Horsforth 6 47.28x
Horton In Bradford 6 6.64x
Huddersfield 6 7.11x
Stockton On Tees 6 7.16x
Wistow 6 389.61x
Wortley In Bramley 6 13.08x
Bowling 5 8.72x
Bramley In Bramley 5 22.55x
Crayke 5 500.00x
Prittlewell 5 31.29x
Slingsby 5 420.17x
Walkeringham 5 352.11x
Bishop Auckland 4 17.15x
Brotton 4 52.91x
Heapham 4 1379.31x
Styrrup 4 341.88x
Toxteth Park 4 1.70x
Whorlton 4 291.97x
Aldborough In Great 3 294.12x
Azerley 3 217.39x
Gildersome 3 43.10x
Halifax 3 3.53x
Shipley 3 9.98x
Sturton Bransby 3 232.56x
Balderton 2 93.02x
Carlton In Skipton 2 59.17x
Crook Billy Row 2 8.98x
Flaxton 2 273.97x
Healey With Sutton 2 400.00x
Holbeck 2 5.21x
Humberstone 2 37.59x
Idle 2 7.45x
Kensington London 2 0.62x
Leicester St Margaret 2 1.27x
Little Thurrock 2 217.39x
Liverpool 2 0.47x
Redmarshall Carlton 2 333.33x
Royal Navy 2 3.36x
Scampton 2 434.78x
Skipton 2 10.98x
Upper Stonebeck 2 350.88x
West Derby 2 0.99x
York St Maurice 2 18.35x
Cockfield 1 41.32x
Headingley Cum Burley 1 2.68x
Sale 1 6.32x
St Mark Lincoln 1 50.25x
St Martin Pomroy London 1 714.29x
Watford 1 3.20x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 45
Elizabeth 22
Sarah 22
Ann 20
Annie 17
Emma 14
Hannah 13
Jane 13
Alice 10
Martha 9
Charlotte 8
Ellen 7
Eliza 5
Emily 5
Ruth 5
Clara 4
Grace 4
Betty 3
Catherine 3
Edith 3
Esther 3
Fanny 3
Margaret 3
Selina 3
Susan 3
Ada 2
Louisa 2
Lydia 2
Maria 2
Marianne 2
Pamela 2
Phoebe 2
Amy 1
Bertha 1
Betsey 1
Betsy 1
Caroline 1
Elenanor 1
Elisabeth 1
Elizth. 1
Emeline 1
Emmeline 1
Henrietta 1
Hepzibah 1
Isabella 1
Janet 1
Jany 1
Julia 1
Leah 1
Tabitha 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 42
William 39
James 26
Joseph 16
Thomas 14
George 13
Arthur 9
Alfred 8
Benjamin 7
Edward 6
David 5
Henry 5
Herbert 5
Albert 4
Charles 4
Harry 4
Richard 4
Walter 4
Frank 3
Frederick 3
Godfrey 3
Joshua 3
Matthew 3
Robert 3
Tom 3
Amos 2
Anthony 2
Ben 2
Isaac 2
Ralph 2
Samuel 2
Squire 2
Barker 1
Dyson 1
Franklin 1
Fredk.A. 1
Harlow 1
Harrison 1
Isaiah 1
Joab 1
Jos. 1
Leonard 1
Lonis 1
Luther 1
Maximilian 1
Nathaniel 1
Osman 1
Ralpt 1
Riley 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Lobley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lobley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 596 people were recorded with the Lobley surname. That placed it at #5,868 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lobley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 519 in 2016. That gives Lobley a modern rank of #9,736.

What does the Lobley surname mean?

An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "muddy clearing" or "muddy field."

What does the Lobley map show?

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