UK surname
A surname derived from an Irish place name meaning "hilly ridge."
In the 1881 census there were 92 people recorded with the Molley surname, ranking it #20,709 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 48, ranked #35,004, down from #20,709 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Manchester and Liverpool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Molley is 325 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 47.8%.
1881 census count
92
Ranked #20,709
Modern count
48
2016, ranked #35,004
Peak year
1861
325 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Molley surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Molley surname density by area, 1911 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 | 137 | #13,812 |
| 1861 | historical | 325 | #7,835 |
| 1881 | historical | 92 | #20,709 |
| 1891 | historical | 254 | #12,598 |
| 1901 | historical | 152 | #17,916 |
| 1911 | historical | 159 | #17,219 |
| 1997 | modern | 40 | #33,666 |
| 1998 | modern | 43 | #33,557 |
| 1999 | modern | 46 | #33,424 |
| 2000 | modern | 43 | #33,709 |
| 2001 | modern | 40 | #33,842 |
| 2002 | modern | 41 | #34,032 |
| 2003 | modern | 44 | #33,875 |
| 2004 | modern | 49 | #33,647 |
| 2005 | modern | 44 | #34,255 |
| 2006 | modern | 47 | #34,335 |
| 2007 | modern | 49 | #34,422 |
| 2008 | modern | 51 | #34,439 |
| 2009 | modern | 52 | #34,544 |
| 2010 | modern | 51 | #34,773 |
| 2011 | modern | 52 | #34,688 |
| 2012 | modern | 49 | #34,873 |
| 2013 | modern | 46 | #35,110 |
| 2014 | modern | 47 | #35,097 |
| 2015 | modern | 48 | #35,004 |
| 2016 | modern | 48 | #35,004 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow and West Derby. 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 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 2 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 3 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| 4 | Glasgow | Lanark |
| 5 | West Derby | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Molley 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 Molley, 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 Molley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Molley 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, Molley 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 Molley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Molley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname MOLLEY is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "molda," which means "earth" or "soil." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived or worked on the land, such as a farmer or a landowner.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name MOLLEY can be found in the Domesday Book, a great survey of England compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. The entry mentions a landowner named Willelmus Molley, who held lands in the county of Essex.
During the 13th century, the name MOLLEY appeared in various records and documents, often spelled differently, such as "Molleye," "Molly," or "Molle." These variations were common due to the inconsistencies in spelling and recordkeeping at the time.
The MOLLEY surname is also associated with several place names in England, such as Mollington in Oxfordshire and Mollington in Cheshire. These place names may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.
One notable figure bearing the MOLLEY surname was Sir Thomas Molley (c. 1530-1592), an English landowner and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He served as the Sheriff of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire in 1577.
Another individual of note was John Molley (c. 1560-1630), a renowned English playwright and poet during the Elizabethan era. He is best known for his plays "The Tragical History of Sir John van Olden Barnavelt" and "The Bloody Banquet."
In the 18th century, the MOLLEY surname gained further prominence with the exploits of Admiral Sir George Molley (1722-1798), a decorated naval officer who played a crucial role in several battles during the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars.
During the Victorian era, the MOLLEY name was associated with the industrialist and philanthropist Sir Henry Molley (1820-1892), who amassed a considerable fortune through his textile manufacturing business and contributed significantly to the development of his local community in Lancashire.
Another notable figure was Elizabeth Molley (1875-1948), a pioneering English author and feminist who wrote extensively on women's rights and advocated for equal opportunities in education and employment.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Molley 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 26 Molleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.42x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 26 | 2.42x |
| Durham | 21 | 7.78x |
| Cheshire | 10 | 4.99x |
| Warwickshire | 10 | 4.37x |
| Derbyshire | 4 | 2.82x |
| Middlesex | 4 | 0.44x |
| Staffordshire | 4 | 1.31x |
| Surrey | 4 | 0.91x |
| Aberdeenshire | 3 | 3.57x |
| Kent | 3 | 0.97x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 0.22x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.56x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 9.25x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bishopwearmouth in Durham leads with 8 Molleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.54x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bishopwearmouth | 8 | 34.54x |
| Aston | 7 | 11.11x |
| Boldon | 7 | 729.17x |
| Aughton | 6 | 560.75x |
| Tranmere | 6 | 81.52x |
| West Derby | 6 | 19.05x |
| Everton | 5 | 14.57x |
| Birkenhead | 4 | 25.06x |
| Burslem | 4 | 45.61x |
| North Bedburn | 4 | 533.33x |
| Aberdeen St Nicholas | 3 | 19.08x |
| Coventry St Michael | 3 | 40.82x |
| Openshaw | 3 | 59.52x |
| Wandsworth | 3 | 34.36x |
| Woolwich | 3 | 26.25x |
| Ilkeston | 2 | 50.25x |
| Monkwearmouth Shore | 2 | 37.95x |
| Shardlow | 2 | 740.74x |
| Battersea | 1 | 3.00x |
| Bradford | 1 | 4.60x |
| Huddersfield | 1 | 7.63x |
| Islington London | 1 | 1.14x |
| Little Wakering | 1 | 1000.00x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 1.53x |
| Mile End Old Town | 1 | 6.98x |
| Over Darwen | 1 | 11.63x |
| Parr | 1 | 25.97x |
| Preston | 1 | 3.47x |
| Salford | 1 | 3.16x |
| St George Martyr | 1 | 65.36x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 2.06x |
| Ulverston | 1 | 31.85x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Molley 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 Molley 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 Molley households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 23 |
| Coal Miner | 5 |
| Ag Lab | 2 |
| General Labourer | 2 |
| Machinist | 2 |
| Pauper | 2 |
| A B | 1 |
| Assistant School (SM) | 1 |
| Builder & Contractor | 1 |
| Coal Miner Wife | 1 |
| Dairy Maid (Ag Lab) | 1 |
| Dom Serv | 1 |
| General Lab | 1 |
| Gig Sadler | 1 |
| Grocer | 1 |
| Hat Trimmer | 1 |
| Jeweller | 1 |
| Laborer | 1 |
| Laborer Wife | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Mariner | 1 |
| Masons Labourer | 1 |
| Nursing Sister (Nun) | 1 |
| Painter | 1 |
| Plumber | 1 |
| Potter | 1 |
| Pupil Teacher | 1 |
| Seaman | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 92 people were recorded with the Molley surname. That placed it at #20,709 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 48 in 2016. That gives Molley a modern rank of #35,004.
A surname derived from an Irish place name meaning "hilly ridge."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Molley 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.