NameCensus.

UK surname

Madeley

A surname derived from a place name, possibly referring to someone from Madeley, Shropshire.

In the 1881 census there were 808 people recorded with the Madeley surname, ranking it #4,617 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,377, ranked #4,382, up from #4,617 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors, Whitchurch and Wolstanton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Shropshire, Bury and Sandwell.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Madeley is 1,462 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 70.4%.

1881 census count

808

Ranked #4,617

Modern count

1,377

2016, ranked #4,382

Peak year

2000

1,462 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Madeley had 808 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,617 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,377 in 2016, ranked #4,382.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,406 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Madeley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Madeley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Madeley 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 479 #5,198
1861 historical 470 #5,522
1881 historical 808 #4,617
1891 historical 995 #4,170
1901 historical 1,230 #4,027
1911 historical 1,406 #3,430
1997 modern 1,311 #4,372
1998 modern 1,454 #4,159
1999 modern 1,433 #4,223
2000 modern 1,462 #4,143
2001 modern 1,429 #4,147
2002 modern 1,455 #4,169
2003 modern 1,425 #4,162
2004 modern 1,389 #4,252
2005 modern 1,398 #4,192
2006 modern 1,357 #4,300
2007 modern 1,378 #4,281
2008 modern 1,375 #4,317
2009 modern 1,395 #4,344
2010 modern 1,421 #4,356
2011 modern 1,400 #4,360
2012 modern 1,396 #4,316
2013 modern 1,413 #4,335
2014 modern 1,432 #4,314
2015 modern 1,400 #4,353
2016 modern 1,377 #4,382

Geography

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Where Madeleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors, Whitchurch, Wolstanton, Wednesbury and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Shropshire, Bury and Sandwell. 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 Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors Shropshire
2 Whitchurch Shropshire
3 Wolstanton Staffordshire
4 Wednesbury Staffordshire
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Shropshire 032 Shropshire
2 Shropshire 001 Shropshire
3 Bury 023 Bury
4 Sandwell 001 Sandwell
5 Bury 024 Bury

Forenames

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First names often paired with Madeley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Madeley

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Madeley is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Madeley 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

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

Meaning and origin of Madeley

The surname Madeley originated in England, specifically in the county of Shropshire. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "maed" meaning meadow and "leah" meaning a clearing or field, suggesting that the name referred to someone who lived near a meadow clearing.

The name Madeley can be traced back to the 11th century, with records showing it appeared in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Madelie" and "Madeley". This was a survey of land and property ownership commissioned by William the Conqueror after the Norman conquest of England in 1066.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname Madeley was William de Madeleye, who was recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Shropshire in 1203. The Pipe Rolls were financial records maintained by the English Exchequer.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various spellings, including Madelegh, Madelay, and Madeley, reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling at the time.

The surname Madeley is also associated with several place names in Shropshire, such as Madeley Court, Madeley Heath, and Madeley Wood, further reinforcing its local origins.

Notable individuals with the surname Madeley include:

1. Richard Madeley (born 1956), English television presenter and journalist. 2. Judy Madeley (born 1948), English actress, known for her role in the sitcom "The Rise and Fall of Reginald Perrin". 3. John Madeley (1939-2009), British journalist and author, known for his work on global development issues. 4. Henry Madeley (1865-1950), English cricketer who played for Warwickshire County Cricket Club. 5. John Madeley (1781-1847), English Quaker minister and writer.

The surname Madeley has a rich history rooted in the English countryside, reflecting the close connection between people and their local environment. Its evolution over time showcases the linguistic and cultural changes that have shaped English surnames.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Madeley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Madeley 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. Staffordshire leads with 254 Madeleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.46x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 254 9.46x
Shropshire 182 26.50x
Lancashire 83 0.88x
Cheshire 70 3.99x
Warwickshire 59 2.94x
Derbyshire 47 3.78x
Yorkshire 26 0.33x
Worcestershire 25 2.41x
Kent 16 0.59x
Middlesex 9 0.11x
Surrey 8 0.21x
Lanarkshire 7 0.27x
Flintshire 5 2.34x
Monmouthshire 4 0.70x
Hertfordshire 3 0.55x
Isle of Man 3 2.03x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.28x
Midlothian 2 0.19x
Royal Navy 2 2.11x
Bedfordshire 1 0.24x
Herefordshire 1 0.31x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.55x
Northumberland 1 0.08x
Somerset 1 0.08x
Suffolk 1 0.10x
Sussex 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Upon Trent in Staffordshire leads with 34 Madeleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.95x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Upon Trent 34 11.95x
Gnosall 33 509.26x
Walsall Foreign 29 20.92x
Wednesbury 28 41.75x
Aston 23 4.17x
Wem 22 215.26x
Tipton 19 23.12x
Ellesmere 16 135.71x
Whitchurch 16 120.03x
Ardwick 14 16.45x
Kingswinford 13 13.34x
Wolstanton Knutton 13 79.32x
Drayton In Hales 12 84.75x
Coventry St Michael 11 17.08x
Nantwich 11 53.95x
Wellington 11 28.50x
Welsh Hampton 11 774.65x
Whitchurch Tilstock 11 647.06x
Beswick 10 41.44x
Ercall Magna 10 203.25x
Salford 10 3.60x
Solihull 10 69.40x
Checkley Cum Wrinehill 9 1956.52x
Hampton Bickley 9 441.18x
Lewisham 9 6.22x
Trentham 9 39.44x
Walgherton 9 2000.00x
Willaston In Nantwich 9 166.05x
Willenhall 9 17.91x
Broughton In Salford 8 9.27x
Hodnet 8 148.98x
Horninglow 8 63.29x
Mickleover 8 207.79x
Wolstanton 8 9.81x
Ashborne 7 82.74x
Batley 7 9.35x
Cadder 7 36.86x
Cannock 7 14.95x
Derby All Sts 7 67.31x
Kidderminster Borough 7 11.52x
Middle 7 372.34x
Rodington 7 648.15x
Shrewsbury St Julian 7 41.20x
Stapenhill 7 37.78x
Stoke 7 177.22x
Boxley 6 143.88x
Chertsey 6 23.97x
Dukinfield 6 7.40x
Gomersal 6 16.32x
Liscard 6 18.98x
Shawbury 6 227.27x
Stafford St Mary 6 15.79x
Stourbridge 6 22.46x
Tottenham 6 4.74x
Upper Penn 6 89.29x
Upton Magna 6 472.44x
Wolstanton Golden 6 1875.00x
Bradford 5 11.32x
Hulme 5 2.54x
Prees 5 59.74x
Wolstanton Chesterton 5 36.44x
Bootle Cum Linacre 4 5.34x
Dalbury With Lees 4 740.74x
Dudley 4 3.17x
Handsworth 4 6.05x
Horsley 4 53.40x
Kings Norton 4 4.30x
Pendleton In Salford 4 3.56x
Yardley 4 15.06x
Birmingham 3 0.45x
Castle Church 3 18.60x
Doncaster 3 5.21x
Donington 3 277.78x
Eckington 3 9.92x
Mucklestone 3 116.73x
Norton In Hales 3 294.12x
Onchan 3 7.05x
Shrewsbury St Chad 3 12.44x
Upper Llanvrechva 3 33.59x
Warrington 3 2.68x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 48
Sarah 47
Elizabeth 26
Ann 20
Ellen 18
Eliza 17
Annie 15
Harriet 15
Alice 14
Emma 13
Jane 12
Margaret 11
Martha 11
Hannah 9
Fanny 8
Emily 6
Florence 5
Harriett 5
Louisa 5
Lydia 5
Selina 5
Catherine 4
Edith 4
Frances 4
Lucy 4
Susan 4
Caroline 3
Elizth. 3
Julia 3
Sophia 3
Ada 2
Agnes 2
Amy 2
Anne 2
Charlotte 2
Clara 2
Esther 2
Georgina 2
Gertrude 2
Maria 2
Matilda 2
Christina 1
Eva 1
Fanney 1
Jesse 1
Jessie 1
Lilian 1
Lilly 1
Lizzie 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 64
John 62
Thomas 40
Joseph 26
George 21
Henry 20
Charles 13
Edward 13
James 12
Richard 12
Alfred 11
Herbert 10
Robert 10
Frederick 9
Albert 7
Arthur 6
Edwin 6
Aaron 4
David 4
Frank 4
Harry 4
Walter 4
Edgar 3
Joshua 3
Samuel 3
Ambrose 2
Elijah 2
Ernest 2
Frederic 2
Philip 2
Thos. 2
Benjamin 1
Cher 1
Edwd. 1
Enoch 1
Ernald 1
Florence 1
Harold 1
Harrington 1
Herald 1
Isaac 1
Jasper 1
Jethro 1
Jos. 1
Josh. 1
Moses 1
Nephi 1
Orson 1
Tom 1
Yorke 1

FAQ

Madeley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Madeley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 808 people were recorded with the Madeley surname. That placed it at #4,617 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Madeley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,377 in 2016. That gives Madeley a modern rank of #4,382.

What does the Madeley surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name, possibly referring to someone from Madeley, Shropshire.

What does the Madeley map show?

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