NameCensus.

UK surname

Muckley

A surname derived from the Old English word "muccel," meaning "great" or "big."

In the 1881 census there were 109 people recorded with the Muckley surname, ranking it #18,793 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 185, ranked #20,652, down from #18,793 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Amersham, St Leonard Shoreditch and Wednesbury. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sandwell, Warwick and Warrington.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Muckley is 210 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 69.7%.

1881 census count

109

Ranked #18,793

Modern count

185

2016, ranked #20,652

Peak year

1999

210 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Muckley had 109 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,793 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 185 in 2016, ranked #20,652.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 172 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Muckley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Muckley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Muckley 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 71 #20,875
1861 historical 86 #22,810
1881 historical 109 #18,793
1891 historical 137 #19,501
1901 historical 151 #17,988
1911 historical 172 #16,408
1997 modern 199 #17,668
1998 modern 203 #17,949
1999 modern 210 #17,712
2000 modern 204 #17,987
2001 modern 202 #17,834
2002 modern 209 #17,803
2003 modern 209 #17,620
2004 modern 201 #18,168
2005 modern 186 #18,985
2006 modern 193 #18,675
2007 modern 187 #19,271
2008 modern 184 #19,666
2009 modern 197 #19,218
2010 modern 202 #19,322
2011 modern 201 #19,213
2012 modern 192 #19,730
2013 modern 191 #20,124
2014 modern 191 #20,302
2015 modern 192 #20,138
2016 modern 185 #20,652

Geography

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Where Muckleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Amersham, St Leonard Shoreditch, Wednesbury, St Matthew Bethnal Green and Warrington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sandwell, Warwick, Warrington, Huntingdonshire and Stockport. 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 Amersham Buckinghamshire
2 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
3 Wednesbury Staffordshire
4 St Matthew Bethnal Green London (East Districts)
5 Warrington Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sandwell 003 Sandwell
2 Warwick 013 Warwick
3 Warrington 008 Warrington
4 Huntingdonshire 021 Huntingdonshire
5 Stockport 012 Stockport

Forenames

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First names often paired with Muckley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Muckley

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Muckley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Muckley household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Muckley 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

Muckley 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

Muckley falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Muckley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Muckley

The surname Muckley is believed to have originated in England, most likely during the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational name derived from a now-extinct place name, possibly stemming from the Old English words "mycc" meaning "muck" or "manure" and "leah" meaning "a clearing" or "meadow." This suggests the name may have referred to someone who lived near a manure-covered clearing or meadow.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Muckley can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, where it appears as "Mokeleye." This variation in spelling was common during that era, as standardized spelling conventions had not yet been established.

In the 15th century, the surname appears in various records from the county of Staffordshire, such as the Pipe Rolls of 1487, where it is listed as "Mokkeley." This region is considered a potential area of origin for the Muckley name.

A notable early bearer of the surname was John Muckley, born around 1520 in Wolverhampton, Staffordshire. He was a merchant and landowner who played a significant role in the local community.

During the 17th century, the Muckley surname is found in the Parish Registers of Warwickshire, where it is recorded as "Muckley" and "Muckeley." One individual of note from this era is Thomas Muckley, born in 1638 in Coventry, Warwickshire. He was a respected scholar and author of several theological works.

In the 18th century, the Muckley name appears in various records from the county of Shropshire, such as the Land Tax Assessments of 1712, where it is listed as "Mockley." This region may have been another area of concentration for the surname.

A notable figure from this period was William Muckley, born in 1745 in Shrewsbury, Shropshire. He was a successful businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the local community.

Throughout history, the Muckley surname has been documented in various forms, including Mokeleye, Mokkeley, Muckeley, and Mockley, reflecting the regional variations and lack of standardized spelling at the time. While the name may have originated from a now-lost place name, it has endured as a distinct surname with a rich history in England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Muckley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Muckley 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. Staffordshire leads with 36 Muckleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.03x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 36 10.03x
Buckinghamshire 17 26.45x
Middlesex 13 1.22x
Lancashire 10 0.79x
Warwickshire 8 2.98x
Yorkshire 8 0.76x
Gloucestershire 7 3.36x
Surrey 5 0.97x
Suffolk 2 1.54x
Kent 1 0.28x
Leicestershire 1 0.85x
Norfolk 1 0.61x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wednesbury in Staffordshire leads with 21 Muckleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 234.11x.

Place Total Index
Wednesbury 21 234.11x
Coleshill 17 9444.44x
Didsbury 10 595.24x
Kingswinford 8 61.40x
Morley 8 145.99x
Bethnal Green London 7 15.16x
Leckhampton 7 546.88x
West Bromwich 7 34.08x
Southwark St George Martyr 4 18.70x
Westminster St 4 102.04x
Edgbaston 3 36.10x
Warwick St Nicholas 3 152.28x
Bury St Edmunds St James 2 57.80x
Warwick St Mary 2 85.84x
Bromley 1 18.08x
Bunwell 1 322.58x
Feltham 1 94.34x
Fulham London 1 6.49x
Mountsorrel 1 476.19x
Penge 1 14.73x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 8
Thomas 7
John 5
George 3
James 3
Charles 2
David 2
Henry 2
Jabez 2
Joseph 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Angelo 1
Benjamin 1
Edward 1
Fredrick 1
Hy. 1
Jermaudo 1
Lenoard 1
Louis 1
Mark 1
Moses 1
Philip 1
Robert 1
Samuel 1
Stephen 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Muckley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Muckley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 109 people were recorded with the Muckley surname. That placed it at #18,793 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Muckley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 185 in 2016. That gives Muckley a modern rank of #20,652.

What does the Muckley surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old English word "muccel," meaning "great" or "big."

What does the Muckley map show?

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