NameCensus.

UK surname

Niles

Derived from a placename meaning "dweller at the foot of a hill" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 88 people recorded with the Niles surname, ranking it #21,211 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 393, ranked #12,032, up from #21,211 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Mawgan in Pyder and St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, Lewisham and Cheshire East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Niles is 411 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 346.6%.

1881 census count

88

Ranked #21,211

Modern count

393

2016, ranked #12,032

Peak year

2011

411 bearers

Map years

6

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Niles had 88 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #21,211 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 393 in 2016, ranked #12,032.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 138 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Niles surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Niles surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Niles 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 86 #18,820
1861 historical 124 #17,797
1881 historical 88 #21,211
1891 historical 96 #24,559
1901 historical 138 #18,955
1911 historical 129 #19,577
1997 modern 331 #12,668
1998 modern 336 #12,889
1999 modern 349 #12,638
2000 modern 348 #12,614
2001 modern 350 #12,375
2002 modern 357 #12,424
2003 modern 349 #12,435
2004 modern 347 #12,516
2005 modern 359 #12,143
2006 modern 368 #11,990
2007 modern 378 #11,877
2008 modern 381 #11,918
2009 modern 391 #11,925
2010 modern 401 #11,973
2011 modern 411 #11,617
2012 modern 404 #11,647
2013 modern 407 #11,766
2014 modern 397 #12,076
2015 modern 388 #12,188
2016 modern 393 #12,032

Geography

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Where Niles' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Mawgan in Pyder, St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford, Camborne and Plymouth St Charles the Martyr. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham, Lewisham, Cheshire East and 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 London parishes London 3
2 Mawgan in Pyder Cornwall
3 St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford London (South Districts)
4 Camborne Cornwall
5 Plymouth St Charles the Martyr Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 029 County Durham
2 County Durham 027 County Durham
3 Lewisham 016 Lewisham
4 Cheshire East 009 Cheshire East
5 Cornwall 024 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Niles

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Niles

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Niles surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Niles household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Niles 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

Niles is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Niles falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Niles is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Niles

The surname Niles is of English origin and dates back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "nīl," meaning "brook" or "stream," and was likely given as a descriptive surname to someone who lived near a small stream or brook.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Niles can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1191, where a person named William de Nyles is mentioned. This suggests that the name may have originated in the county of Gloucestershire or the surrounding areas.

During the medieval period, the name was also spelled in various ways, such as Nyles, Nyles, and Niles. These variations were common due to the lack of standardized spelling at the time.

In the 13th century, the name appears in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, where a person named Roger de Nyles is recorded. This provides evidence that the name was present in other parts of England during this period.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname Niles was Sir John Niles, a prominent landowner who lived in Bedfordshire in the late 14th century. He was involved in local politics and held several important positions in the county.

Another notable figure with the surname Niles was Samuel Niles, a Puritan minister born in 1674 in Hingham, Massachusetts. He played a significant role in the establishment of the Congregational Church in New England and was known for his influential sermons and writings.

In the literary world, Nathaniel Niles, born in 1741 in West Fairlee, Vermont, was a renowned poet and author. He is best known for his works celebrating the natural beauty of New England and his contributions to the development of American literature.

One of the most prominent individuals with the surname Niles was John Milton Niles, born in 1787 in Windsor, Connecticut. He was a lawyer, politician, and judge who served as a member of the United States Senate from 1835 to 1839, representing the state of Connecticut.

The surname Niles has also been associated with place names, such as Niles, Michigan, which was founded in 1829 and named after Ezra Niles, one of the early settlers in the area.

Overall, the surname Niles has a rich history dating back to medieval England, with its origins rooted in descriptive surnames related to geographical features. Throughout the centuries, it has been carried by notable individuals in various fields, including religion, literature, politics, and law.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Niles families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Niles 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 29 Niles' recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.75x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 29 25.75x
Devon 22 10.62x
Channel Islands 12 40.71x
Yorkshire 10 1.01x
Middlesex 7 0.70x
Durham 6 2.03x
Cumberland 5 5.84x
Kent 4 1.18x
Royal Navy 2 16.88x
Sussex 2 1.19x
Lancashire 1 0.08x
Northumberland 1 0.68x
Warwickshire 1 0.40x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Mawgan In Pyder in Cornwall leads with 18 Niles' recorded in 1881 and an index of 7500.00x.

Place Total Index
Mawgan In Pyder 18 7500.00x
Stoke Damerel 13 89.72x
St Michaelinthe Vale 9 857.14x
Conisbrough 8 869.57x
Easington 6 1395.35x
Plymouth Charles The 6 65.79x
St Johns 5 8333.33x
Arlecdon 4 175.44x
Deptford St Nicholas 4 148.70x
Advent 3 3750.00x
Spitalfields London 3 40.11x
St Peter Port 3 55.05x
Antony 2 183.49x
Paddington London 2 5.47x
Royal Navy 2 19.74x
West Hoathly 2 377.36x
Chelsea London 1 3.34x
Cottam 1 2500.00x
Coventry Holy Trinity 1 13.35x
Cramlington 1 51.02x
Hackney London 1 1.79x
Liverpool 1 1.39x
Meavy 1 1000.00x
Padstow 1 133.33x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 6.27x
South Dalton 1 1111.11x
St Budeaux 1 156.25x
Whitehaven 1 21.93x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 12
Elizabeth 3
Emily 3
Maria 3
Sarah 3
Ann 2
Ellen 2
Emma 2
Alice 1
Beartrice 1
Beatrice 1
Bridget 1
Cordelia 1
Edith 1
Eliz.Mary 1
Eliza 1
Emeline 1
Ester 1
Frances 1
Gertrude 1
Hannah 1
Jane 1
Jemima 1
Jemimah 1
Jessie 1
Kate 1
Leonora 1
Louisa 1
Mabel 1
Minnie 1
Rebecca 1
Susanna 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 9
William 9
George 3
Edward 2
Henry 2
James 2
Joseph 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Bejamin 1
Benj. 1
Charles 1
Christopher 1
Edwin 1
Francis 1
Harry 1
Hender 1
Herbert 1
Michael 1
Patrick 1
Peter 1
Philip 1
Roberd 1
Thomas 1

FAQ

Niles surname: questions and answers

How common was the Niles surname in 1881?

In 1881, 88 people were recorded with the Niles surname. That placed it at #21,211 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Niles surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 393 in 2016. That gives Niles a modern rank of #12,032.

What does the Niles surname mean?

Derived from a placename meaning "dweller at the foot of a hill" in Old English.

What does the Niles map show?

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