UK surname
Of Scandinavian origin, a locational surname derived from a place name.
In the 1881 census there were 15 people recorded with the Nale surname, ranking it #31,451 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 17, ranked #36,904, down from #31,451 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H, Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a and Gluvias. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Nale is 146 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 13.3%.
1881 census count
15
Ranked #31,451
Modern count
17
2016, ranked #36,904
Peak year
1861
146 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Nale surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Nale surname density by area, 1861 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 | 29 | #28,082 |
| 1861 | historical | 146 | #15,628 |
| 1881 | historical | 15 | #31,451 |
| 1891 | historical | 61 | #29,103 |
| 1901 | historical | 29 | #30,848 |
| 1911 | historical | 24 | #30,800 |
| 1997 | modern | 5 | #37,891 |
| 1998 | modern | 3 | #38,304 |
| 1999 | modern | 5 | #37,872 |
| 2000 | modern | 2 | #38,472 |
| 2001 | modern | 1 | #38,647 |
| 2002 | modern | 2 | #38,400 |
| 2003 | modern | 4 | #37,951 |
| 2004 | modern | 6 | #37,655 |
| 2005 | modern | 5 | #37,885 |
| 2006 | modern | 7 | #37,634 |
| 2007 | modern | 9 | #37,435 |
| 2008 | modern | 10 | #37,371 |
| 2009 | modern | 12 | #37,230 |
| 2010 | modern | 13 | #37,215 |
| 2011 | modern | 15 | #37,030 |
| 2012 | modern | 18 | #36,723 |
| 2013 | modern | 18 | #36,787 |
| 2014 | modern | 18 | #36,811 |
| 2015 | modern | 16 | #36,978 |
| 2016 | modern | 17 | #36,904 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H, Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a, Gluvias, St James Clerkenwell and Claverdon. 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 | East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H | Gloucestershire |
| 2 | Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a | Essex |
| 3 | Gluvias | Cornwall |
| 4 | St James Clerkenwell | London (Central Districts) |
| 5 | Claverdon | Warwickshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Nale 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 Nale, 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 Nale surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Nale 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, Nale 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 Nale is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Nale, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname NALE is believed to have originated in England, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is likely derived from the Old English word "naele," meaning "nail" or "spike," suggesting that the name may have referred to a nail-maker or someone who worked with nails or spikes.
One of the earliest documented references to the name NALE can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire, dated around 1273, which mentions a person named Walter Nale. This suggests that the name was already established in the region by the late 13th century.
In the 14th century, the NALE surname appeared in various records across England, including the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1379, which listed a John Nale. The Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327 also mentioned a William Nale, indicating the name's presence in different parts of the country.
During the 15th century, the NALE surname continued to spread throughout England. In the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Warwickshire from 1428, a Thomas Nale was recorded. Additionally, the Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk from 1524 included an entry for a John Nale.
One notable historical figure with the NALE surname was Robert Nale (c. 1490-1563), a Protestant martyr who was burned at the stake in Horsham, Sussex, during the reign of Queen Mary I for his religious beliefs.
In the 17th century, the NALE surname appeared in various parish records and legal documents. For example, the parish registers of St. Mary's Church in Beverley, Yorkshire, recorded the baptism of John Nale in 1642.
Another individual of note was William Nale (1653-1730), a prominent English merchant and member of the Society of Friends (Quakers) in Bristol. He played a significant role in the city's trading and shipping industry.
As the name spread across England, it also appeared in various place names and locations. For instance, Nale Hill in Cambridgeshire and Nale's Green in Cheshire may have derived their names from individuals bearing the NALE surname.
Throughout its history, the NALE surname has undergone various spelling variations, such as Naile, Nayle, and Nail, reflecting the fluidity of surname spellings in earlier times.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Nale 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. Northamptonshire leads with 5 Nales recorded in 1881 and an index of 36.39x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Northamptonshire | 5 | 36.39x |
| Essex | 2 | 6.94x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 3.10x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 4.37x |
| Devon | 1 | 3.29x |
| Durham | 1 | 2.30x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.68x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 2.03x |
| Surrey | 1 | 1.41x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.69x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Warkworth in Northamptonshire leads with 5 Nales recorded in 1881 and an index of 4166.67x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Warkworth | 5 | 4166.67x |
| Barking | 1 | 119.05x |
| Bere Ferrers | 1 | 2000.00x |
| Halifax | 1 | 46.95x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 12.32x |
| Monks Coppenhall | 1 | 81.97x |
| Prittlewell | 1 | 250.00x |
| Sedgefield | 1 | 666.67x |
| Southwark St Saviour | 1 | 133.33x |
| Stapenhill | 1 | 294.12x |
| Wolverhampton | 1 | 26.39x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Nale 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 Nale 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 Nale households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| A B | 1 |
| Bricklayer | 1 |
| Bricklayers Lab | 1 |
| Carter | 1 |
| Congregational Minister Of Local Chapel | 1 |
| Cook (Dom) | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Housemaid | 1 |
| Mathematical Mistress | 1 |
| Printers Boy | 1 |
| Railway Engine Driver | 1 |
| Scholar | 1 |
| Servant (Dom) | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 15 people were recorded with the Nale surname. That placed it at #31,451 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 17 in 2016. That gives Nale a modern rank of #36,904.
Of Scandinavian origin, a locational surname derived from a place name.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Nale 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.