NameCensus.

UK surname

Medley

A habitational surname referring to someone living near a meadow or a piece of low-lying grassland.

In the 1881 census there were 1,108 people recorded with the Medley surname, ranking it #3,593 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,288, ranked #4,650, down from #3,593 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Halifax, Birstall and Batley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bradford, East Riding of Yorkshire and Harrogate.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Medley is 1,454 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 16.2%.

1881 census count

1,108

Ranked #3,593

Modern count

1,288

2016, ranked #4,650

Peak year

1999

1,454 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Medley had 1,108 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,593 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,288 in 2016, ranked #4,650.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,427 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Medley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Medley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Medley 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 653 #3,979
1861 historical 757 #3,612
1881 historical 1,108 #3,593
1891 historical 1,115 #3,807
1901 historical 1,297 #3,842
1911 historical 1,427 #3,386
1997 modern 1,406 #4,128
1998 modern 1,446 #4,179
1999 modern 1,454 #4,183
2000 modern 1,443 #4,200
2001 modern 1,398 #4,224
2002 modern 1,405 #4,283
2003 modern 1,335 #4,384
2004 modern 1,340 #4,382
2005 modern 1,321 #4,385
2006 modern 1,320 #4,395
2007 modern 1,321 #4,424
2008 modern 1,314 #4,472
2009 modern 1,330 #4,517
2010 modern 1,356 #4,526
2011 modern 1,359 #4,468
2012 modern 1,312 #4,535
2013 modern 1,321 #4,589
2014 modern 1,332 #4,577
2015 modern 1,306 #4,612
2016 modern 1,288 #4,650

Geography

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Where Medleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Halifax, Birstall, Batley, Bradford and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bradford, East Riding of Yorkshire, Harrogate and Wigan. 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 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Birstall Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Batley Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bradford 035 Bradford
2 East Riding of Yorkshire 034 East Riding of Yorkshire
3 Bradford 024 Bradford
4 Harrogate 010 Harrogate
5 Wigan 025 Wigan

Forenames

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First names often paired with Medley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Medley

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Medley 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

Medley is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Medley 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 Medley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Medley

The surname Medley is of English origin, with roots dating back to the medieval period. It is thought to have derived from the Old English word "med-leah," which translates to "meadow clearing" or "meadow enclosure." This suggests that the earliest bearers of the name may have resided in or near a meadow or clearing in a woodland area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the late 12th century, where it appears as "de Medlei." This spelling variation indicates that the name was likely associated with a specific place name or location during that time.

In the 13th century, the surname appears in various historical records, such as the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, where it is recorded as "Medeleye." This further supports the connection between the name and a particular place or settlement.

The Medley surname has also been linked to the village of Medley in Buckinghamshire, which was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Medelai." This suggests that some early bearers of the name may have originated from or lived in this area.

Notable individuals with the surname Medley throughout history include:

1. John Medley (c. 1608-1666), an English Puritan clergyman and author who served as the Provost of Eton College. 2. Samuel Medley (1738-1799), an English Baptist minister and hymn writer, known for compositions like "O Could I Speak the Matchless Worth." 3. George Webb Medley (1828-1898), an English-born Canadian statesman and Premier of the Colony of Newfoundland from 1885 to 1886. 4. Sir John Medley (1804-1892), an English judge and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge. 5. William Medley (1834-1920), an English cricketer who played for Gloucestershire and represented the Marylebone Cricket Club.

While the Medley surname has maintained a presence throughout the centuries, its origins can be traced back to the medieval period in England, where it was likely derived from a place name associated with a meadow or clearing in a wooded area.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Medley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Medley 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. Yorkshire leads with 511 Medleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.78x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 511 4.78x
Hampshire 128 5.79x
Lancashire 122 0.95x
Middlesex 69 0.64x
Lincolnshire 67 3.89x
Essex 41 1.93x
Surrey 29 0.55x
Staffordshire 28 0.77x
Sussex 20 1.10x
Dorset 13 1.84x
Worcestershire 12 0.85x
Durham 10 0.31x
Nottinghamshire 9 0.62x
Cheshire 6 0.25x
Warwickshire 6 0.22x
Devon 4 0.18x
Hertfordshire 4 0.54x
Oxfordshire 4 0.60x
Angus 3 0.30x
Berkshire 3 0.37x
Shropshire 3 0.32x
Wiltshire 3 0.31x
Inverness-shire 2 0.62x
Kent 2 0.05x
Bedfordshire 1 0.18x
Derbyshire 1 0.06x
Glamorgan 1 0.05x
Gloucestershire 1 0.05x
Norfolk 1 0.06x
Somerset 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. Liversedge in Yorkshire leads with 43 Medleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 90.43x.

Place Total Index
Liversedge 43 90.43x
Northowram 42 56.07x
Bradford 34 13.15x
West Bromwich 28 13.44x
Dewsbury 27 24.65x
Romsey Infra 27 360.48x
Huddersfield 25 16.07x
Sheffield 25 7.35x
Habergham Eaves 19 16.25x
Manchester 19 3.30x
Romsey Extra 19 144.60x
Lambeth 18 1.92x
Great Little Marsden 17 29.02x
Upper Hallam 17 183.19x
Rotherham 16 26.57x
Ventnor 16 76.15x
Kirkheaton 14 80.83x
Ovenden 14 29.45x
Sculcoates 14 8.27x
Ecclesall Bierlow 13 5.98x
Headingley Cum Burley 13 18.91x
Poole St James 13 48.91x
Leeds 11 1.82x
St Nicholas Lincoln 11 66.79x
Aismunderby Cum 10 331.13x
Brighton 10 2.73x
Southampton St Mary 10 7.20x
Sutton Stoneferry 10 32.72x
Worsley 10 12.68x
Halifax 9 5.74x
Hipperholme Cum 9 19.18x
Ryde 9 18.96x
Woodham Walter 9 466.32x
Batley 8 7.88x
Brightside Bierlow 8 3.82x
Dalton In Huddersfield 8 33.43x
Mirfield 8 13.64x
Mundon 8 672.27x
Nottingham St Mary 8 2.13x
South Stoneham 8 16.69x
St Dunstan In West 8 346.32x
Stickney 8 313.73x
Whitburn 8 106.95x
Cleckheaton 7 17.79x
Colne 7 18.37x
Enfield 7 9.90x
Heeley 7 21.57x
Paddington London 7 1.77x
Scarborough 7 7.21x
Toxteth Park 7 1.62x
Whitwell 7 268.20x
Beeston 6 55.56x
Bingley 6 8.82x
Bonchurch 6 240.96x
Bradfield 6 14.57x
Ecclesfield 6 7.66x
Edmonton 6 6.91x
Hove 6 7.52x
Hunslet 6 3.60x
Newchurch 6 119.76x
Ossett Cum Gawthorpe 6 15.72x
Salford 6 1.60x
Southampton St John 6 265.49x
St George Martyr 6 33.02x
Yeadon 6 24.88x
Barnsley 5 4.54x
Castleton 5 3.91x
Danbury 5 138.50x
Great Grimsby 5 4.57x
Hanley Castle 5 59.38x
Lissington 5 520.83x
Manningham 5 3.80x
Nether Hallam 5 3.46x
Tinsley 5 133.69x
Upton Warren 5 413.22x
West Ham 5 1.06x
Westminster St James 5 4.51x
Woodford 5 20.76x
Ashton Under Lyne 4 1.43x
St George Hanover 4 2.84x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 62
William 43
Joseph 28
George 27
James 26
Thomas 25
Charles 20
Henry 17
Harry 15
Alfred 14
Albert 13
Edward 13
Walter 13
Arthur 12
Samuel 12
Fred 11
Robert 10
Frederick 9
Francis 7
Ernest 6
Tom 6
Edwin 5
David 4
Herbert 4
Percy 4
Richard 4
Abraham 3
Ben 3
Frank 3
Geo. 3
Wm. 3
Benjamin 2
Chas. 2
Edgar 2
Guy 2
J. 2
Joe 2
Joshua 2
Nathaniel 2
Reginald 2
Sam 2
Saml. 2
Sharp 2
Willie 2
Bertie 1
Eden 1
Elijah 1
Eliza 1
Enoch 1
Henrey 1

FAQ

Medley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Medley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,108 people were recorded with the Medley surname. That placed it at #3,593 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Medley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,288 in 2016. That gives Medley a modern rank of #4,650.

What does the Medley surname mean?

A habitational surname referring to someone living near a meadow or a piece of low-lying grassland.

What does the Medley map show?

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