UK surname
From the Germanic roots meaning "meadow" and "wood", a habitational surname.
In the 1881 census there were 58 people recorded with the Mattley surname, ranking it #25,428 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 48, ranked #35,004, down from #25,428 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Burton-on-Trent, Ibstock and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mattley is 136 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 17.2%.
1881 census count
58
Ranked #25,428
Modern count
48
2016, ranked #35,004
Peak year
1861
136 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Mattley surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Mattley surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 44 | #25,328 |
| 1861 | historical | 136 | #16,556 |
| 1881 | historical | 58 | #25,428 |
| 1891 | historical | 82 | #26,494 |
| 1901 | historical | 73 | #26,069 |
| 1911 | historical | 68 | #26,050 |
| 1997 | modern | 40 | #33,666 |
| 1998 | modern | 43 | #33,557 |
| 1999 | modern | 43 | #33,683 |
| 2000 | modern | 45 | #33,526 |
| 2001 | modern | 44 | #33,490 |
| 2002 | modern | 46 | #33,631 |
| 2003 | modern | 51 | #33,266 |
| 2004 | modern | 49 | #33,647 |
| 2005 | modern | 46 | #34,081 |
| 2006 | modern | 48 | #34,245 |
| 2007 | modern | 49 | #34,422 |
| 2008 | modern | 50 | #34,521 |
| 2009 | modern | 50 | #34,663 |
| 2010 | modern | 50 | #34,833 |
| 2011 | modern | 50 | #34,816 |
| 2012 | modern | 47 | #34,992 |
| 2013 | modern | 50 | #34,891 |
| 2014 | modern | 51 | #34,865 |
| 2015 | modern | 49 | #34,946 |
| 2016 | modern | 48 | #35,004 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Burton-on-Trent, Ibstock, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Hucknall Torkard and Annesley, Felley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Burton-on-Trent | Staffordshire |
| 2 | Ibstock | Leicestershire |
| 3 | Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard | Nottinghamshire |
| 4 | Hucknall Torkard | Nottinghamshire |
| 5 | Annesley, Felley | Nottinghamshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Mattley surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mattley, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Mattley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Mattley household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Mattley is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mattley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Mattley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Mattley originates from England, with its roots traced back to the medieval era. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "mæt," meaning "meat" or "food," and "leah," meaning "a clearing" or "meadow." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to a person who lived near a clearing used for grazing livestock or gathering food.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1194, where it is spelled "Mattelea." This document was a record of financial transactions and accounts maintained by the English Exchequer during the reign of King Richard I.
In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, a record of landowners and their properties, there is a mention of a William de Matteleye, indicating that the name had evolved into a more recognizable form by the 13th century.
During the 14th century, the Mattley surname can be found in various records, such as the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, where a John Matteleye is listed as a taxpayer.
Notable individuals bearing the Mattley surname include Sir John Mattley (1535-1613), a prominent English landowner and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire. Another notable figure was William Mattley (1678-1744), a renowned architect and surveyor who contributed to the design of several churches and public buildings in London.
In the 16th century, the Mattley name appeared in the parish records of Oxfordshire, with the birth of Thomas Mattley in 1584 recorded in the village of Deddington.
The Mattley surname also has connections to several place names in England, such as Mattley Wood in Buckinghamshire and Mattley Bridge in Hampshire, both of which may have derived their names from individuals or families bearing the Mattley surname in those areas.
Other historical figures with the Mattley surname include Richard Mattley (1620-1682), a wealthy merchant and landowner in Gloucestershire, and Elizabeth Mattley (1725-1802), a philanthropist and benefactor who funded the construction of a school and almshouses in her hometown of Cheltenham.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mattley surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 22 Mattleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.28x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 22 | 3.28x |
| Nottinghamshire | 15 | 19.68x |
| Yorkshire | 7 | 1.25x |
| Essex | 5 | 4.48x |
| Middlesex | 4 | 0.71x |
| Glamorgan | 3 | 3.05x |
| Bedfordshire | 1 | 3.41x |
| Leicestershire | 1 | 1.59x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hucknall Torkard in Nottinghamshire leads with 15 Mattleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 777.20x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Hucknall Torkard | 15 | 777.20x |
| Ashton Under Lyne | 14 | 95.43x |
| Saddleworth | 7 | 162.04x |
| West Ham | 5 | 20.28x |
| Spotland | 4 | 53.62x |
| Swansea Town | 3 | 37.17x |
| St Marylebone London | 2 | 6.62x |
| Castleton | 1 | 14.93x |
| Heap | 1 | 28.09x |
| Hornsey | 1 | 13.99x |
| Hulme | 1 | 7.14x |
| Leighton Buzzard | 1 | 79.37x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 2.45x |
| Ratby | 1 | 322.58x |
| Towerof London London | 1 | 555.56x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Mattley surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Mattley surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Mattley households.
FAQ
In 1881, 58 people were recorded with the Mattley surname. That placed it at #25,428 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 48 in 2016. That gives Mattley a modern rank of #35,004.
From the Germanic roots meaning "meadow" and "wood", a habitational surname.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Mattley bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.