NameCensus.

UK surname

Malley

Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Máille, meaning "descendant of Máille" (a personal name of uncertain origin).

In the 1881 census there were 868 people recorded with the Malley surname, ranking it #4,364 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,071, ranked #5,458, down from #4,364 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Manchester and Liverpool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ardler and St Marys, Dunblane West and Islington.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Malley is 1,083 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 23.4%.

1881 census count

868

Ranked #4,364

Modern count

1,071

2016, ranked #5,458

Peak year

1891

1,083 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Malley had 868 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,364 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,071 in 2016, ranked #5,458.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,083 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Malley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Malley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Malley 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 549 #4,612
1861 historical 783 #3,518
1881 historical 868 #4,364
1891 historical 1,083 #3,895
1901 historical 1,038 #4,610
1911 historical 929 #4,832
1997 modern 1,042 #5,306
1998 modern 1,035 #5,518
1999 modern 1,038 #5,538
2000 modern 1,037 #5,519
2001 modern 990 #5,619
2002 modern 1,012 #5,634
2003 modern 992 #5,629
2004 modern 963 #5,780
2005 modern 947 #5,799
2006 modern 939 #5,848
2007 modern 948 #5,861
2008 modern 936 #5,946
2009 modern 991 #5,801
2010 modern 1,031 #5,731
2011 modern 1,022 #5,718
2012 modern 1,029 #5,601
2013 modern 1,068 #5,518
2014 modern 1,064 #5,573
2015 modern 1,073 #5,462
2016 modern 1,071 #5,458

Geography

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Where Malleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Manchester, Liverpool, West Derby and Preston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ardler and St Marys, Dunblane West, Islington, Great Yarmouth and Glenwood South. 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 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Liverpool Lancashire
4 West Derby Lancashire
5 Preston Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ardler and St Marys Dundee City
2 Dunblane West Stirling
3 Islington 005 Islington
4 Great Yarmouth 010 Great Yarmouth
5 Glenwood South Glasgow City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Malley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Malley

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Malley is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Malley is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Malley falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Malley 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 - Irish

This describes the area pattern most associated with Malley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Malley

The surname Malley is believed to have originated in Ireland, derived from the Gaelic personal name Maelmhaedhoc, which means "a devotee of St. Maedhoc." The name was anglicized to various spellings, including Malley, Melly, Milley, and Molly.

The first recorded instance of the name dates back to the 13th century, where it appears in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. In these annals, the name is spelled "Ó Máille," which translates to "descendant of Máille."

During the Middle Ages, the Malley clan was prominent in County Mayo, Ireland, particularly in the baronies of Erris and Gallen. They were a powerful family and held significant influence in the region.

One of the earliest documented individuals with the surname Malley was Tomaltach Ó Máille, a 14th-century chieftain and leader of the Malley clan. He is mentioned in the Annals of the Four Masters for his involvement in various conflicts and battles.

In the 16th century, the Malley family was engaged in a long-standing feud with the Bourke family, another prominent clan in County Mayo. This conflict is recorded in various historical accounts and manuscripts from that era.

Another notable figure with the surname Malley was Reverend Francis Malley, a Catholic priest who lived in the late 17th century. He was known for his efforts in preserving the Irish language and culture during a time of oppression against Catholics in Ireland.

In the 18th century, John Malley, a merchant and landowner from County Mayo, gained recognition for his business ventures and philanthropic contributions to the local community.

During the 19th century, a prominent figure with the Malley surname was Sir Hugh Malley, a British military officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars and was awarded the Order of the Bath for his distinguished service.

The surname Malley has also been associated with various place names in Ireland, such as Malleytown and Malleybrackey, further reflecting its historical roots and connections to specific regions within the country.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Malley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Malley 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. Lancashire leads with 384 Malleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.82x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 384 3.82x
Lanarkshire 63 2.30x
Warwickshire 54 2.53x
Northumberland 41 3.25x
Yorkshire 34 0.40x
Durham 30 1.19x
Midlothian 30 2.64x
Middlesex 28 0.33x
Cheshire 19 1.02x
Hampshire 19 1.09x
Renfrewshire 19 2.89x
Staffordshire 18 0.63x
Gloucestershire 13 0.78x
Derbyshire 12 0.90x
Surrey 12 0.29x
Denbighshire 11 3.44x
Kent 9 0.31x
Glamorgan 8 0.54x
Nottinghamshire 8 0.70x
Devon 7 0.40x
Buckinghamshire 6 1.17x
Shropshire 6 0.82x
Clackmannanshire 5 7.14x
Perthshire 5 1.31x
Aberdeenshire 4 0.51x
Cumberland 4 0.55x
Angus 3 0.38x
Dunbartonshire 2 0.88x
Essex 2 0.12x
Flintshire 2 0.88x
Leicestershire 2 0.21x
Stirlingshire 2 0.64x
Fife 1 0.20x
Hertfordshire 1 0.17x
Merionethshire 1 0.64x
Northamptonshire 1 0.13x
Royal Navy 1 0.99x
Sussex 1 0.07x
Worcestershire 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Preston in Lancashire leads with 47 Malleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.46x.

Place Total Index
Preston 47 17.46x
Birmingham 40 5.61x
Great Bolton 39 29.27x
Govan 34 5.01x
West Derby 27 9.17x
Manchester 24 5.31x
Liverpool 22 3.60x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 20 26.55x
Everton 18 5.61x
Lancaster 18 30.08x
Barony 16 2.31x
Toxteth Park 16 4.70x
Aston 14 2.38x
Portsea 14 4.11x
Stockport 14 14.54x
Leeds 13 2.74x
Lytham 13 84.64x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 12 2.63x
Llanrhydd 11 436.51x
Chorlton On Medlock 10 6.26x
Leyland 10 57.14x
Thornton In Fylde 10 45.43x
Abbey 9 8.98x
Bootle Cum Linacre 9 11.27x
Little Bolton 9 6.96x
Glasgow 8 1.64x
Ince In Makerfield 8 17.09x
Battersea 7 2.24x
Blackburn 7 2.62x
Cannock 7 14.02x
Cwmdu 7 38.93x
Darlington 7 7.19x
Edinburgh Trinity 7 191.26x
Hammersmith London 7 3.35x
Openshaw 7 14.86x
Wallsend 7 17.50x
Ardwick 6 6.61x
Ashton Under Lyne 6 2.73x
Boldon 6 66.74x
Bristol St James In 6 24.54x
Burnley 6 7.08x
Chesterfield 6 12.06x
Hoghton 6 236.22x
Middlesbrough 6 5.49x
Moss Side 6 11.34x
Ormskirk 6 31.17x
St Pancras London 6 0.88x
West Dean 6 22.21x
Alloa 5 14.73x
Byker 5 8.02x
Croydon 5 2.18x
Mearns 5 43.44x
Nottingham St Mary 5 1.69x
Saddleworth 5 7.72x
Silverdale 5 352.11x
Stoke Damerel 5 4.05x
Wolverton 5 47.13x
Acton 4 8.05x
Biddlestone 4 869.57x
Chorley 4 7.09x
Edinburgh New 4 45.35x
Edinburgh Old Church 4 43.86x
Fraserburgh 4 18.10x
Gateshead 4 2.12x
Gosforth 4 112.36x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 4 3.66x
North Shields 4 15.89x
Paisley Middle Church 4 10.46x
Shifnal 4 20.12x
Stafford St Mary 4 9.88x
Wolverhampton 4 1.82x
York St George 4 60.42x
Arnold 3 17.99x
Deptford St Nicholas 3 13.07x
Edinburgh Canongate 3 10.38x
Hulme 3 1.43x
Liff Benvie 3 2.52x
Old Monkland 3 2.76x
Waldridge 3 71.09x
Withington 3 9.26x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 64
Margaret 30
Catherine 29
Elizabeth 24
Ann 22
Bridget 17
Sarah 16
Ellen 15
Jane 10
Alice 8
Anne 6
Agnes 5
Annie 5
Eliza 5
Emily 5
Esther 5
Hannah 5
Martha 5
Frances 4
Julia 4
Kate 4
Louisa 3
Amy 2
Charlotte 2
Emma 2
Fanny 2
Florence 2
Isabella 2
Maria 2
Rebecca 2
Rebekah 2
Rose 2
Rosina 2
Catharine 1
Cecelia 1
Cecilia 1
Edith 1
Edna 1
Eliz. 1
Eliz.Ellen 1
Elizth. 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Hester 1
Honor 1
Janice 1
Joanna 1
Johanna 1
Urania 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 63
James 39
Thomas 38
William 26
Michael 24
Patrick 20
Edward 14
Henry 14
George 13
Joseph 11
Peter 11
Richard 6
Anthony 5
Charles 5
Frank 5
Daniel 4
Robert 4
Samuel 4
Abraham 3
Albert 3
Alfred 3
Arthur 3
Frederick 3
Martin 3
Austin 2
Benjamin 2
Ernest 2
Hugh 2
Leonard 2
Mathew 2
Phillip 2
Walter 2
B. 1
Bryan 1
Chas. 1
Cheodore 1
Edwin 1
Hanner 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
J. 1
J.P. 1
Louis 1
Mary 1
Micheal 1
Owen 1
Patk. 1
Richd. 1
Robt.W. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Malley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Malley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 868 people were recorded with the Malley surname. That placed it at #4,364 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Malley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,071 in 2016. That gives Malley a modern rank of #5,458.

What does the Malley surname mean?

Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Máille, meaning "descendant of Máille" (a personal name of uncertain origin).

What does the Malley map show?

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