NameCensus.

UK surname

Mawdsley

A locational surname derived from a place name in Lancashire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 943 people recorded with the Mawdsley surname, ranking it #4,088 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,783, ranked #3,532, up from #4,088 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, North Meols and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sefton, Knowsley and West Lancashire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mawdsley is 1,895 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 89.1%.

1881 census count

943

Ranked #4,088

Modern count

1,783

2016, ranked #3,532

Peak year

2010

1,895 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mawdsley had 943 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,088 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,783 in 2016, ranked #3,532.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,872 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Small Town Suburbia.

Mawdsley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mawdsley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mawdsley 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 679 #3,828
1861 historical 588 #4,497
1881 historical 943 #4,088
1891 historical 1,055 #3,976
1901 historical 1,527 #3,371
1911 historical 1,872 #2,643
1997 modern 1,760 #3,396
1998 modern 1,825 #3,413
1999 modern 1,841 #3,408
2000 modern 1,837 #3,400
2001 modern 1,818 #3,364
2002 modern 1,848 #3,383
2003 modern 1,809 #3,382
2004 modern 1,799 #3,392
2005 modern 1,776 #3,407
2006 modern 1,787 #3,395
2007 modern 1,806 #3,396
2008 modern 1,802 #3,429
2009 modern 1,853 #3,429
2010 modern 1,895 #3,428
2011 modern 1,840 #3,463
2012 modern 1,757 #3,539
2013 modern 1,789 #3,548
2014 modern 1,806 #3,542
2015 modern 1,783 #3,548
2016 modern 1,783 #3,532

Geography

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Where Mawdsleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, North Meols, Manchester, Liverpool and Ormskirk. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sefton, Knowsley and West Lancashire. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 North Meols Lancashire
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 Ormskirk Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sefton 010 Sefton
2 Knowsley 008 Knowsley
3 Sefton 005 Sefton
4 West Lancashire 003 West Lancashire
5 Sefton 014 Sefton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mawdsley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mawdsley

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Small Town Suburbia

Nationally, the Mawdsley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Small Town Suburbia, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Mawdsley 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 is predominantly comprised of married couples with no resident dependent children, living in areas characterised neither by under-occupancy nor overcrowding throughout the UK in or adjacent to small towns. White ethnic groups and affiliation with Christianity predominates. Housing tends to be predominantly semi-detached or detached and workers are employed principally in managerial and professional occupations, with semi-skilled occupations also in evidence. These areas of the Supergroup are of higher population density.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Mawdsley 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

Mawdsley is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Mawdsley

The surname Mawdsley originated in England, with roots dating back to the medieval era. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "mawd" and "leah," which together translate to "bald clearing" or "bare meadow." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to a geographical location or settlement where the earliest bearers of the surname resided.

The earliest known recorded instances of the Mawdsley name can be traced back to the late 13th century in Lancashire, a county in northwestern England. Historical records from this period, such as the Subsidy Rolls of 1332, mention individuals with variations of the name, including Maudesley and Mawdisley.

One of the earliest documented references to the Mawdsley name appears in the Lancashire Inquests of 1310, where a John de Maudesley is mentioned as a landowner. This suggests that the Mawdsley family held a prominent position in the region during that time.

Over the centuries, the spelling of the surname has evolved, with various forms such as Mawdesley, Maudsley, and Maudsley appearing in historical records. These variations likely arose due to regional dialects and the inconsistent spelling conventions of the time.

The Mawdsley name has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One such figure is Thomas Mawdsley (1696-1769), an English clockmaker and inventor renowned for his contributions to the development of precision timepieces. Another notable bearer of the name was Ralph Mawdsley (1828-1904), a British engineer and industrialist who played a significant role in the advancement of the textile industry.

Other individuals of historical significance include John Mawdsley (1763-1834), an English clergyman and author, and Henry Mawdsley (1808-1897), a British civil engineer known for his work on early railway construction projects.

In the realm of literature, the Mawdsley name has been carried by authors such as David Mawdsley (1916-1998), a British novelist and playwright, and Evan Mawdsley (born 1945), a renowned historian and author of several books on military history.

While the Mawdsley surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through immigration and the diaspora of English families. However, its origins can be traced back to the medieval period in Lancashire, where it likely emerged as a locational surname reflecting the distinctive geography of the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mawdsley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mawdsley 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 884 Mawdsleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.08x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 884 8.08x
Cheshire 18 0.88x
Yorkshire 17 0.19x
Staffordshire 5 0.16x
Isle of Man 4 2.34x
Shropshire 4 0.50x
Surrey 4 0.09x
Flintshire 3 1.21x
Middlesex 2 0.02x
Worcestershire 2 0.17x
Derbyshire 1 0.07x
Essex 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Formby in Lancashire leads with 81 Mawdsleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 653.75x.

Place Total Index
Formby 81 653.75x
West Derby 43 13.44x
Scarisbrick 36 283.46x
Ormskirk 33 157.67x
Great Crosby 29 97.25x
Newchurch 27 30.17x
Halsall 25 578.70x
Liverpool 24 3.61x
North Meols 24 22.41x
Kirkby 22 496.61x
Aughton 21 193.91x
Prescot 20 101.11x
Preston 19 6.49x
Toxteth Park 19 5.13x
Spotland 18 14.80x
Bootle Cum Linacre 16 18.42x
Oldham 15 4.25x
Upholland 15 106.99x
Aspull 13 50.52x
Litherland 13 56.84x
Mawdesley 13 442.18x
Parr 13 33.22x
Rixton With Glazebrook 13 467.63x
Wigan 13 8.50x
Chorlton On Medlock 12 6.91x
Halifax 12 8.95x
Ince In Makerfield 12 23.58x
Kirkdale 12 6.52x
Little Bolton 12 8.53x
Musbury 12 375.00x
Burscough 11 658.68x
Everton 10 2.87x
Beswick 9 32.18x
Farnworth 9 13.73x
Moss Side 9 15.64x
Wrightington 9 188.68x
Accrington 8 8.04x
Bradford 8 15.63x
Longton 8 173.91x
Salford 8 2.49x
Speke 8 493.83x
Tarleton 8 133.11x
Clayton Le Moors 7 32.99x
Manchester 7 1.42x
Rainford 7 59.17x
Tottington Lower End 7 13.47x
Whiston 7 82.06x
Blackburn 6 2.06x
Crompton 6 19.26x
Dalton In Wigan 6 382.17x
Haigh 6 157.48x
Horwich 6 50.29x
Over 6 29.01x
Wavertree 6 17.14x
Bury 5 4.00x
Cheetham 5 6.13x
Eccleston In Prescot 5 9.10x
Heap 5 8.62x
Lathom 5 37.85x
Little Harwood 5 252.53x
Rusholme 5 17.14x
Walton Le Dale 5 17.01x
Audley 4 12.99x
Barton Upon Irwell 4 4.86x
Braddan 4 42.78x
Camberwell 4 0.68x
Haslingden 4 8.83x
Maghull 4 88.11x
Sale 4 16.03x
Walton On Hill 4 6.75x
Great Bolton 3 2.07x
Newton 3 3.56x
Northop 3 34.17x
Stretford 3 4.99x
Wellington 3 6.70x
Dunham Massey 2 32.05x
Monks Coppenhall 2 2.60x
Rainhill 2 28.53x
Southcoates 2 3.94x
Worcester St John 2 13.91x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 72
Elizabeth 51
Margaret 38
Jane 32
Ellen 28
Alice 27
Sarah 22
Ann 21
Annie 14
Catherine 11
Hannah 10
Martha 10
Esther 6
Anne 5
Emily 5
Emma 5
Isabella 5
Agnes 4
Eliza 4
Susannah 4
Ada 3
Betsy 3
Frances 3
Louisa 3
Ruth 3
Charlotte 2
Eleanor 2
Elizth. 2
Harriet 2
Helen 2
Jessie 2
Lydia 2
Margery 2
Rachel 2
Rose 2
Amy 1
Barbery 1
Bertha 1
Betsey 1
Custance 1
Deborah 1
Dorothy 1
E. 1
Edith 1
Elisabeth 1
Elizth.Ann 1
Helena 1
Hester 1
Hetty 1
Jaddah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 71
William 68
James 53
Thomas 53
Henry 36
George 25
Robert 25
Joseph 20
Richard 19
Edward 8
Hector 8
Peter 6
Thos. 5
Charles 4
Evan 4
Samuel 4
Wm. 4
Ernest 3
Frederick 3
Robt. 3
Alexander 2
Andrew 2
Arthur 2
Benjamin 2
Daniel 2
Frank 2
Fred 2
Grimshaw 2
Harold 2
Harry 2
Jesse 2
Lawrence 2
Ralph 2
Walter 2
Alfred 1
Ashworth 1
Cuthbert 1
David 1
Ed. 1
Edmund 1
Francis 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
G. 1
Hargreave 1
Joshua 1
Phillip 1
Rd. 1
Richd 1
Robertson 1

FAQ

Mawdsley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mawdsley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 943 people were recorded with the Mawdsley surname. That placed it at #4,088 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mawdsley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,783 in 2016. That gives Mawdsley a modern rank of #3,532.

What does the Mawdsley surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name in Lancashire, England.

What does the Mawdsley map show?

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