UK surname
An occupational surname for someone who made or worked with nails.
In the 1881 census there were 137 people recorded with the Nailer surname, ranking it #16,358 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 75, ranked #33,377, down from #16,358 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Shaw-cum-Donnington and Reading St Giles, Shinfield (East and West Side, Hartley Dammer), Sonning (Early),. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Nailer is 145 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 45.3%.
1881 census count
137
Ranked #16,358
Modern count
75
2016, ranked #33,377
Peak year
1861
145 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1881
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Nailer surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Nailer surname density by area, 1881 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 | 100 | #17,164 |
| 1861 | historical | 145 | #15,715 |
| 1881 | historical | 137 | #16,358 |
| 1891 | historical | 59 | #29,325 |
| 1901 | historical | 64 | #27,010 |
| 1911 | historical | 85 | #24,322 |
| 1997 | modern | 84 | #29,106 |
| 1998 | modern | 85 | #29,439 |
| 1999 | modern | 84 | #29,700 |
| 2000 | modern | 81 | #30,036 |
| 2001 | modern | 75 | #30,481 |
| 2002 | modern | 80 | #30,387 |
| 2003 | modern | 78 | #30,654 |
| 2004 | modern | 74 | #31,306 |
| 2005 | modern | 72 | #31,730 |
| 2006 | modern | 76 | #31,633 |
| 2007 | modern | 73 | #32,287 |
| 2008 | modern | 74 | #32,460 |
| 2009 | modern | 74 | #32,835 |
| 2010 | modern | 84 | #32,289 |
| 2011 | modern | 81 | #32,558 |
| 2012 | modern | 70 | #33,638 |
| 2013 | modern | 77 | #33,275 |
| 2014 | modern | 80 | #33,133 |
| 2015 | modern | 80 | #33,052 |
| 2016 | modern | 75 | #33,377 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Shaw-cum-Donnington, Reading St Giles, Shinfield (East and West Side, Hartley Dammer), Sonning (Early),, St Giles Camberwell and Reading St Mary, Tilehurst, Theale. 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 1 |
| 2 | Shaw-cum-Donnington | Berkshire |
| 3 | Reading St Giles, Shinfield (East and West Side, Hartley Dammer), Sonning (Early), | Berkshire |
| 4 | St Giles Camberwell | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | Reading St Mary, Tilehurst, Theale | Berkshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Nailer 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 Nailer, 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 Nailer surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Nailer 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, Nailer 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 Nailer is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Nailer, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Nailer is of English origin and dates back to the medieval period, specifically the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word "nael," meaning "nail," which was the occupational name for a nail maker or seller. The earliest recorded spelling of the name is found in the Hundred Rolls of Norfolk, England, in 1273, where it appears as "Thomas le Nayler."
In medieval times, surnames were often derived from a person's occupation, and the name Nailer would have been given to someone whose primary trade or profession involved the making or selling of nails. Nails were in high demand during this period, as they were essential for various construction projects, including the building of houses, churches, and other structures.
The Nailer surname is also found in several medieval records and manuscripts, including the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1301, which mention a "Robert le Nayler." Additionally, the name appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1327, where a "John Nayler" is recorded.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Nailer surname is found in the Domesday Book, the great survey of England completed in 1086 under the direction of William the Conqueror. The book mentions a "Willelmus Nailere" in Cambridgeshire.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the surname Nailer. One of the earliest was Sir Thomas Nayler (1515-1581), who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1564. Another prominent figure was James Nayler (1618-1660), a controversial Quaker leader and author who was punished for blasphemy during the English Interregnum.
In the 18th century, Sir George Nayler (1764-1831) was a British naval officer who played a significant role in the Napoleonic Wars. He was present at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 and later became the Governor of Newfoundland.
More recently, John Naylor (1892-1968) was a British trade unionist and Labour Party politician who served as a Member of Parliament for the Bassetlaw constituency from 1945 to 1959.
The surname Nailer has also been associated with various place names and locations throughout England, such as Nailer's Hill in Somerset and Nailer's Field in Derbyshire, reflecting the occupational origins of the name.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Nailer 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. Berkshire leads with 64 Nailers recorded in 1881 and an index of 63.34x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Berkshire | 64 | 63.34x |
| Durham | 21 | 5.24x |
| Lancashire | 11 | 0.69x |
| Middlesex | 11 | 0.82x |
| Sussex | 5 | 2.20x |
| Lincolnshire | 4 | 1.86x |
| Leicestershire | 3 | 2.01x |
| Norfolk | 3 | 1.45x |
| Nottinghamshire | 3 | 1.65x |
| Rutland | 2 | 20.24x |
| Surrey | 2 | 0.30x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 0.15x |
| Bedfordshire | 1 | 1.43x |
| Buckinghamshire | 1 | 1.23x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.38x |
| Northamptonshire | 1 | 0.79x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 0.50x |
| Renfrewshire | 1 | 0.96x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.22x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bucklebury in Berkshire leads with 30 Nailers recorded in 1881 and an index of 5660.38x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bucklebury | 30 | 5660.38x |
| Reading St Giles | 11 | 111.00x |
| Shaw Cum Donnington | 9 | 2812.50x |
| Merrington | 6 | 779.22x |
| Newfield | 6 | 1132.08x |
| Tilehurst | 6 | 294.12x |
| Ashton Under Lyne | 5 | 14.32x |
| Chelsea London | 5 | 12.32x |
| Monkwearmouth | 5 | 130.55x |
| Thatcham | 5 | 320.51x |
| Great Bolton | 4 | 18.90x |
| Hedworth Monkton Jarrow | 4 | 23.05x |
| South Witham | 4 | 2105.26x |
| Bulwell | 3 | 76.14x |
| Leicester St Margaret | 3 | 8.24x |
| Southwick | 3 | 250.00x |
| Brighton | 2 | 4.37x |
| Hackney London | 2 | 2.65x |
| Heigham | 2 | 18.00x |
| St Marylebone London | 2 | 2.78x |
| Bradfield | 1 | 188.68x |
| Camberwell | 1 | 1.16x |
| East Dereham | 1 | 38.17x |
| Elswick | 1 | 6.25x |
| Goole | 1 | 44.64x |
| Great Wakering | 1 | 169.49x |
| Horton | 1 | 250.00x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 0.85x |
| Neilston | 1 | 19.08x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 2.02x |
| Peterborough | 1 | 10.91x |
| Salesbury | 1 | 1111.11x |
| Teigh | 1 | 1666.67x |
| Wallingford St Mary Le | 1 | 175.44x |
| Walsall Borough | 1 | 28.33x |
| Wardleworth | 1 | 10.95x |
| Wardley | 1 | 5000.00x |
| Westminster St John | 1 | 6.10x |
| Whitwood | 1 | 52.91x |
| Woolhampton | 1 | 434.78x |
| Wymington | 1 | 434.78x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Nailer 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 Nailer surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| William | 12 |
| Joseph | 6 |
| Thomas | 6 |
| Henry | 4 |
| James | 4 |
| Alfred | 3 |
| Charles | 3 |
| John | 3 |
| Albert | 2 |
| Cecil | 2 |
| Edward | 2 |
| Edwin | 2 |
| Francis | 2 |
| Philip | 2 |
| Samuel | 2 |
| Alex | 1 |
| Andrew | 1 |
| Arthur | 1 |
| Benjamin | 1 |
| Edmond | 1 |
| Falarrum | 1 |
| Frank | 1 |
| Frederick | 1 |
| Geo. | 1 |
| Geo.Harrison | 1 |
| George | 1 |
| Jas. | 1 |
| Johnathan | 1 |
| Jos. | 1 |
| Michael | 1 |
| Robert | 1 |
| Sidney | 1 |
| Walter | 1 |
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 Nailer households.
FAQ
In 1881, 137 people were recorded with the Nailer surname. That placed it at #16,358 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 75 in 2016. That gives Nailer a modern rank of #33,377.
An occupational surname for someone who made or worked with nails.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Nailer 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.