NameCensus.

UK surname

Murley

A habitational surname derived from Morley, a town in West Yorkshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 398 people recorded with the Murley surname, ranking it #7,996 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 517, ranked #9,761, down from #7,996 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Phillack and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Murley is 568 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 29.9%.

1881 census count

398

Ranked #7,996

Modern count

517

2016, ranked #9,761

Peak year

1911

568 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Murley had 398 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,996 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 517 in 2016, ranked #9,761.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 568 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Murley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Murley surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Murley 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 341 #6,892
1861 historical 375 #6,817
1881 historical 398 #7,996
1891 historical 492 #7,528
1901 historical 524 #7,783
1911 historical 568 #7,120
1997 modern 511 #9,162
1998 modern 551 #8,921
1999 modern 549 #8,996
2000 modern 542 #9,056
2001 modern 530 #9,055
2002 modern 540 #9,103
2003 modern 543 #8,932
2004 modern 532 #9,083
2005 modern 517 #9,217
2006 modern 504 #9,432
2007 modern 508 #9,455
2008 modern 529 #9,229
2009 modern 543 #9,261
2010 modern 540 #9,491
2011 modern 548 #9,300
2012 modern 528 #9,482
2013 modern 536 #9,535
2014 modern 542 #9,508
2015 modern 531 #9,584
2016 modern 517 #9,761

Geography

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Where Murleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Phillack, London parishes, Paul and Stoke-under-Hamdon. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Phillack Cornwall
3 London parishes London 3
4 Paul Cornwall
5 Stoke-under-Hamdon Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 069 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 067 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 065 Cornwall
4 Cornwall 068 Cornwall
5 Cornwall 057 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Murley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Murley

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Murley is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Murley is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Murley falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Murley 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 Murley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Murley

The surname Murley is believed to have originated in England, with its earliest records dating back to the 13th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Old English words "mor" meaning "moor" or "marsh," and "leah" meaning "clearing" or "meadow." This suggests that the name likely referred to a person who lived near a marshy clearing or meadow.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it is spelled "de Morleye." This reference suggests that the name may have initially been a place name before becoming a surname, which was a common practice in medieval England.

In the 14th century, the name appears in various spellings, such as "Morley" and "Murley," in records from counties like Yorkshire and Lancashire. This indicates that the name was well-established in northern England during this period.

Several notable individuals bearing the Murley surname have been recorded throughout history. One such person was John Murley, a merchant and alderman in the city of York, who lived in the late 15th century. Another was William Murley, a prominent landowner in Derbyshire, who was mentioned in the Feet of Fines for that county in 1558.

In the 17th century, the name appears in the records of the Virginia Colony in North America. One of the earliest settlers with this surname was Thomas Murley, who arrived in Virginia in 1635.

During the 18th century, the Murley family was well-established in counties like Staffordshire and Warwickshire. A notable member of this family was Samuel Murley, a respected clergyman and author who lived from 1735 to 1821.

In more recent times, the name has been associated with several prominent figures, including Sir John Murley (1898-1976), a British diplomat and civil servant, and Charles Murley (1904-1957), an English cricketer who played for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club.

Overall, the surname Murley has a long and varied history, with its origins rooted in the Old English language and its earliest records found in medieval England. While the name has evolved in spelling over the centuries, it has maintained a strong presence in various regions of England and beyond.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Murley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Murley 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. Cornwall leads with 122 Murleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.28x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 122 27.28x
Somerset 52 8.18x
Middlesex 48 1.21x
Glamorgan 34 4.94x
Devon 30 3.65x
Surrey 27 1.40x
Hampshire 22 2.72x
Yorkshire 15 0.38x
Kent 12 0.89x
Gloucestershire 10 1.29x
Dorset 8 3.09x
Channel Islands 5 4.27x
Sussex 4 0.60x
Cumberland 3 0.88x
Cheshire 2 0.23x
Lancashire 2 0.04x
Norfolk 2 0.33x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.38x
Derbyshire 1 0.16x
Essex 1 0.13x
Leicestershire 1 0.23x
Royal Navy 1 2.12x
Staffordshire 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Just In Penwith in Cornwall leads with 29 Murleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 334.10x.

Place Total Index
St Just In Penwith 29 334.10x
Paul 24 295.20x
Portsea 17 10.71x
St George Hanover 12 23.27x
Madron Penzance 11 67.65x
Martock 11 266.34x
Barwick 10 1562.50x
Stoke Under Hambdon 10 478.47x
Ludgvan 9 252.81x
Seavington St Mary 9 2195.12x
Madron 8 221.61x
St Buryan 8 432.43x
Battersea 7 4.82x
Camberwell 7 2.77x
Gulval 7 243.06x
Llanrhidian Higher 7 160.18x
Llantrisant 7 40.37x
Bermondsey 6 5.10x
Bristol St Paul In 6 29.07x
Mile End Old Town 6 9.62x
Peterstone Super Ely 6 1818.18x
Phillack 6 103.99x
Plymouth St Andrew 6 9.47x
Shadwell London 6 54.25x
Stoke Damerel 6 10.43x
Swansea Town 6 10.64x
Breage 5 122.55x
Fxhls Bythrp Btrwch 5 877.19x
Kensington London 5 2.28x
Lewisham 5 6.96x
Meare 5 261.78x
Melcombe Regis 5 46.51x
Poplar London 5 6.71x
St Pancras London 5 1.57x
Stonehouse East 5 119.90x
Gwennap 4 47.39x
St Owen 4 129.87x
Stoke Climsland 4 139.86x
Churston Ferrers 3 348.84x
Cleator 3 21.19x
Eastbourne 3 9.79x
Greenwich 3 4.77x
Lifton 3 151.52x
Merthyr Tydfil 3 4.54x
Ottery St Mary 3 55.66x
Sculcoates 3 4.83x
Southampton St Mary 3 5.89x
Streatham 3 10.24x
Black Torrington 2 169.49x
Bromley London 2 2.30x
Burton 2 555.56x
Chatham 2 5.39x
Clapham 2 4.05x
Hackney London 2 0.90x
Illogan 2 16.89x
Snenton 2 9.56x
St George In East 2 7.44x
Walcot 2 5.90x
Walsoken 2 54.79x
Waxholme 2 1538.46x
Westbury On Trym 2 7.62x
Wick 2 408.16x
Barking 1 4.38x
Bathwick 1 14.20x
Clifton Maybank 1 909.09x
Exeter St David 1 14.22x
Farnborough 1 11.76x
Freshwater 1 27.03x
Handsworth 1 3.04x
Holy Trinity St Mary 1 16.78x
Leicester St Margaret 1 0.94x
Liverpool 1 0.35x
Manchester 1 0.47x
Middlesbrough 1 1.96x
Milton In Gravesend 1 4.95x
Sidmouth 1 21.23x
St Levan 1 123.46x
St Neot 1 56.82x
Wedmore 1 24.15x
Westminster St James 1 2.46x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 44
Elizabeth 21
Annie 16
Jane 9
Ann 8
Sarah 7
Catherine 6
Eliza 5
Hannah 5
Alice 4
Ellen 4
Emily 4
Louisa 4
Martha 4
Nanny 4
Caroline 3
Edith 3
Emma 3
Florence 3
Harriet 3
Laura 3
Matilda 3
Susan 3
Anne 2
Bessie 2
Charlotte 2
Clara 2
Clarissa 2
Elizth. 2
Fanny 2
Johanna 2
Kate 2
Rebecca 2
Agnes 1
Amelia 1
Arabella 1
Augusta 1
Betsy 1
Diana 1
Esther 1
Fannie 1
Florance 1
Jessie 1
Julia 1
Katie 1
Lavinia 1
Lucy 1
Mable 1
Margaret 1
Thomasine 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 34
John 20
Thomas 14
James 10
Henry 9
Arthur 6
Charles 6
Richard 6
Benjamin 5
George 5
Edward 4
Joseph 4
Walter 4
Edwin 3
Frederick 3
David 2
Ernest 2
Mark 2
Nicholas 2
Patrick 2
Robert 2
W. 2
Allen 1
Arundell 1
Austin 1
Cornelius 1
Daniel 1
Esau 1
Frank 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Geo.A. 1
Harry 1
Hervey 1
Horace 1
Jonathan 1
Michael 1
Murtagh 1
Obed 1
Percival 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Philip 1
Seymour 1
Silvester 1
Sydney 1
Sylvester 1
Timothy 1
Tobias 1
Wm.John 1

FAQ

Murley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Murley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 398 people were recorded with the Murley surname. That placed it at #7,996 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Murley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 517 in 2016. That gives Murley a modern rank of #9,761.

What does the Murley surname mean?

A habitational surname derived from Morley, a town in West Yorkshire, England.

What does the Murley map show?

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