NameCensus.

UK surname

Madley

A surname possibly derived from a place name and meaning "the dweller at the madder meadow or clearing".

In the 1881 census there were 241 people recorded with the Madley surname, ranking it #11,374 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 316, ranked #14,227, down from #11,374 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Newchurch and Newland (Bream, Clearwell, Newland, Coleford), West Dean. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Dorset, Forest of Dean and Rhondda Cynon Taf.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Madley is 398 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 31.1%.

1881 census count

241

Ranked #11,374

Modern count

316

2016, ranked #14,227

Peak year

1861

398 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Madley had 241 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,374 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 316 in 2016, ranked #14,227.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 398 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Madley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Madley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Madley 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 190 #10,852
1861 historical 398 #6,441
1881 historical 241 #11,374
1891 historical 287 #11,473
1901 historical 253 #13,045
1911 historical 277 #12,067
1997 modern 296 #13,646
1998 modern 288 #14,249
1999 modern 283 #14,501
2000 modern 283 #14,488
2001 modern 274 #14,576
2002 modern 281 #14,619
2003 modern 279 #14,506
2004 modern 282 #14,451
2005 modern 271 #14,780
2006 modern 272 #14,834
2007 modern 273 #14,959
2008 modern 276 #14,994
2009 modern 291 #14,742
2010 modern 319 #14,110
2011 modern 311 #14,260
2012 modern 313 #14,095
2013 modern 315 #14,245
2014 modern 315 #14,334
2015 modern 319 #14,118
2016 modern 316 #14,227

Geography

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Where Madleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Newchurch, Newland (Bream, Clearwell, Newland, Coleford), West Dean, Trelleck and Llandaff (incl. Canton), Leckwith. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Dorset, Forest of Dean, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Caerphilly and Weymouth and Portland. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Newchurch Monmouthshire
3 Newland (Bream, Clearwell, Newland, Coleford), West Dean Monmouthshire
4 Trelleck Monmouthshire
5 Llandaff (incl. Canton), Leckwith Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Dorset 011 West Dorset
2 Forest of Dean 007 Forest of Dean
3 Rhondda Cynon Taf 019 Rhondda Cynon Taf
4 Caerphilly 023 Caerphilly
5 Weymouth and Portland 001 Weymouth and Portland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Madley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Madley

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Madley 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

Madley 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

Madley falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Madley

The surname Madley has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from the village of Madley in Herefordshire. The name itself is thought to come from the Old English words "maed" meaning meadow and "leah" meaning a clearing or woodland area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Madley can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Malueleu." This document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, was a survey of landholdings across England at the time.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the name Madley began to appear more frequently in various historical records. In 1275, a Robert de Madley was listed in the Hundred Rolls of Herefordshire. Similarly, in 1327, a John de Madley was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire.

Over the centuries, the name has been spelled in various ways, including Madeley, Maddeley, and Maddley. Some of these variations may have been influenced by the place names from which they originated or by local dialects.

One notable figure bearing the name Madley was John Madley, a 16th-century English clergyman and academic. He was born in Herefordshire in 1512 and served as the President of Magdalen College, Oxford, from 1561 until his death in 1568.

Another individual of historical significance was William Madley, a 17th-century English politician and Member of Parliament for Herefordshire from 1679 to 1681. He was born in 1632 and died in 1702.

In the 18th century, Thomas Madley (1712-1786) was a prominent English farmer and landowner from Herefordshire. He was known for his innovative agricultural practices and played a role in the early stages of the British Agricultural Revolution.

Moving into the 19th century, one can find references to Charles Madley (1810-1878), a British architect and surveyor who was involved in the design and construction of several notable buildings in London and other parts of England.

Lastly, Mary Madley (1886-1972) was a notable British educator and advocate for women's rights. She served as the headmistress of a girls' school in Herefordshire and was actively involved in various women's organizations throughout her career.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Madley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Madley 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. Monmouthshire leads with 72 Madleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 42.02x.

County Total Index
Monmouthshire 72 42.02x
Middlesex 33 1.39x
Glamorgan 24 5.81x
Staffordshire 23 2.87x
Yorkshire 15 0.64x
Lancashire 13 0.46x
Gloucestershire 12 2.58x
Devon 10 2.03x
Shropshire 10 4.88x
Derbyshire 8 2.16x
Warwickshire 7 1.17x
Worcestershire 4 1.29x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.94x
Cheshire 2 0.38x
Herefordshire 2 2.06x
Lincolnshire 2 0.53x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.46x
Flintshire 1 1.57x
Kent 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Pancras London in Middlesex leads with 22 Madleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.53x.

Place Total Index
St Pancras London 22 11.53x
Llandaff 15 109.25x
Runstone 12 60000.00x
Trevethin 11 67.99x
Exeter St Mary Arches 9 1956.52x
Batley 8 35.84x
Shirland 8 287.77x
Cardiff St Mary 7 30.80x
Holy Trinity 7 12.39x
Itton 7 5384.62x
Magor 7 1944.44x
Salford 7 8.46x
Trelleck 7 985.92x
Harborne 5 19.50x
St Luke London 5 13.15x
Stanton Lacy 5 282.49x
Usk 5 352.11x
West Dean 5 66.23x
Birmingham 4 2.01x
Wednesbury 4 20.00x
Clytha 3 1250.00x
East Newchurch 3 909.09x
Greasley 3 41.61x
Llandogo 3 625.00x
Penrose 3 1200.00x
Risca 3 92.88x
Sedgley 3 10.09x
Walsall Foreign 3 7.26x
Wolverhampton 3 4.88x
Aston 2 1.22x
Chelsea London 2 2.80x
Codsall 2 175.44x
Dudley 2 5.31x
Horfield 2 42.74x
Kings Norton 2 7.20x
Manchester 2 1.58x
Monks Coppenhall 2 10.13x
Newcastle Under Lyme 2 14.12x
St Swithin Lincoln 2 33.56x
Wellington 2 17.38x
Wem 2 65.57x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 1 2.43x
Barrow In Furness 1 2.61x
Bristol St James In 1 14.62x
Bristol St Michael 1 25.06x
Caerwent 1 312.50x
Cardiff St John 1 7.42x
Chatham 1 4.49x
Cheetham 1 4.77x
Chepstow 1 34.25x
Clerkenwell London 1 1.79x
Cwmcarvan 1 526.32x
Diddlebury 1 147.06x
Goytrey 1 181.82x
Hackney London 1 0.75x
Hampstead London 1 2.71x
Hanmer 1 204.08x
Ince In Makerfield 1 7.64x
Leominster 1 24.88x
Llandevenny 1 2000.00x
Llanvihangel Y 1 1000.00x
Lydney 1 41.67x
Merthyr Tydfil 1 2.52x
Panteg 1 37.04x
Polesworth 1 35.21x
Poulton Barre 1 31.25x
Shire Newton 1 161.29x
St George Hanover 1 3.23x
Tormoham 1 4.79x
Trentham 1 14.68x
Weobley 1 138.89x
Westbury On Severn East 1 9.51x
Westbury On Trym 1 6.35x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 13
William 10
George 8
Samuel 8
Charles 6
James 6
Joseph 5
Alfred 4
Isaac 4
Richard 4
Robert 4
Edward 3
Henry 3
Albert 2
Arthur 2
Elijah 2
Frederick 2
Harry 2
Jacob 2
Lewis 2
Thomas 2
Walter 2
Wm. 2
Benjamin 1
Caleb 1
Chas. 1
David 1
Ed. 1
Elyth.A. 1
Frank 1
Fredric 1
Herbert 1
Hiram 1
Hy. 1
Jas. 1
Jesse 1
Jethro 1
Johan 1
Jos. 1
Leonard 1
Sydney 1
Willy 1

FAQ

Madley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Madley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 241 people were recorded with the Madley surname. That placed it at #11,374 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Madley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 316 in 2016. That gives Madley a modern rank of #14,227.

What does the Madley surname mean?

A surname possibly derived from a place name and meaning "the dweller at the madder meadow or clearing".

What does the Madley map show?

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