NameCensus.

UK surname

Norley

A locational surname derived from a place named Norley in Cheshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 142 people recorded with the Norley surname, ranking it #16,012 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 184, ranked #20,731, down from #16,012 in 1881.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Norley is 224 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 29.6%.

1881 census count

142

Ranked #16,012

Modern count

184

2016, ranked #20,731

Peak year

1911

224 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Norley had 142 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,012 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 184 in 2016, ranked #20,731.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 224 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Norley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Norley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Norley 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 121 #15,049
1861 historical 212 #11,466
1881 historical 142 #16,012
1891 historical 210 #14,412
1901 historical 196 #15,329
1911 historical 224 #13,914
1997 modern 201 #17,564
1998 modern 202 #17,991
1999 modern 204 #18,021
2000 modern 198 #18,330
2001 modern 196 #18,146
2002 modern 205 #18,009
2003 modern 203 #17,967
2004 modern 195 #18,500
2005 modern 197 #18,339
2006 modern 200 #18,294
2007 modern 201 #18,428
2008 modern 192 #19,143
2009 modern 202 #18,896
2010 modern 195 #19,762
2011 modern 194 #19,662
2012 modern 182 #20,440
2013 modern 185 #20,575
2014 modern 183 #20,880
2015 modern 181 #20,934
2016 modern 184 #20,731

Geography

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Where Norleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Churchill, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Dover St James, Dover St Mary and Alverstoke, Gosport, Rowner. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bristol, Dover, South Gloucestershire, Maidstone and Bath and North East Somerset. 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 Churchill Somerset
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Dover St James, Dover St Mary Kent
5 Alverstoke, Gosport, Rowner Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bristol 029 Bristol, City of
2 Dover 010 Dover
3 South Gloucestershire 028 South Gloucestershire
4 Maidstone 004 Maidstone
5 Bath and North East Somerset 023 Bath and North East Somerset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Norley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Norley

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Norley, 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 Norley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Norley 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Norley is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Norley is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Norley falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Norley

The surname Norley is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated from the village of Norley, located in the county of Cheshire, England. The name itself is derived from the Old English words "nor" and "leah," which together mean "north wood" or "northern clearing."

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Norley can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and wealth commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry refers to a landowner named Ranulph de Norley, who held lands in the village of Norley at that time.

In the 13th century, a notable figure named John de Norley was recorded as the Abbot of Vale Royal Abbey, a Cistercian monastery located near the village of Norley. The abbey was founded in 1277 and played a significant role in the religious and cultural life of the region.

During the 14th century, the Norley family was well-established in Cheshire, with several members holding positions of prominence. One such individual was Sir John Norley, who served as the Sheriff of Cheshire in 1379. He was also a member of the English Parliament, representing the county of Cheshire.

In the 16th century, a prominent member of the Norley family was Richard Norley, who was born in 1505. He was a respected lawyer and served as a Justice of the Peace in Cheshire. Records from that time also mention a place called Norley Hall, which was likely the ancestral home of the Norley family.

Another notable figure with the surname Norley was Thomas Norley, who lived in the 17th century. He was a clergyman and served as the Rector of Stockport Minster, an important ecclesiastical position in the county of Cheshire.

Throughout history, the surname Norley has remained closely tied to its place of origin, the village of Norley in Cheshire. While the name may have spread to other parts of England and beyond, its roots can be traced back to this small rural community and the families who called it home for generations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Norley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Norley 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. Somerset leads with 38 Norleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.29x.

County Total Index
Somerset 38 17.29x
Kent 26 5.58x
Middlesex 19 1.39x
Gloucestershire 14 5.23x
Norfolk 11 5.24x
Yorkshire 11 0.81x
Hampshire 8 2.86x
Surrey 6 0.90x
Lancashire 2 0.12x
Denbighshire 1 1.94x
Dorset 1 1.12x
Hertfordshire 1 1.06x
Royal Navy 1 6.15x
Wiltshire 1 0.83x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brislington in Somerset leads with 11 Norleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2682.93x.

Place Total Index
Brislington 11 2682.93x
Weston Super Mare 11 198.20x
Broomfield 9 4500.00x
Offham 7 4117.65x
Ashford 6 132.16x
Bristol St James St Paul 6 67.19x
Churchill 6 1714.29x
Stoke Holy Cross 6 3157.89x
Chislehurst 5 200.00x
Newington 5 9.91x
Portsea 5 9.12x
Sheffield 5 11.61x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 4 15.87x
Hackney London 4 5.23x
Maidstone 4 28.82x
Paddington London 4 7.97x
Bethnal Green London 3 5.06x
Faversham 3 67.57x
Hockwold Cum Wilton 3 833.33x
Leeds 3 3.93x
Mile End Old Town 3 13.92x
Aldershot 2 21.32x
Clerkenwell London 2 6.21x
Norwich St George Colegate 2 263.16x
Alverstoke 1 9.87x
Bolton In Pocklington 1 1666.67x
Bow London 1 5.75x
Bristol St Augustine 1 23.15x
Bristol St Mary Redcliff 1 40.98x
Canterbury St Mildred 1 90.09x
Clifton 1 7.39x
Devizes St John 1 109.89x
Gillamoor 1 1111.11x
Holy Trinity 1 3.07x
Netherbury 1 135.14x
North Meols 1 6.31x
North Petherton 1 56.50x
Poplar London 1 3.88x
Royal Navy 1 7.19x
Ruabon 1 14.10x
St Marylebone London 1 1.37x
Tormarton 1 500.00x
Walkern 1 250.00x
Wandsworth 1 7.61x
Warrington 1 5.21x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 13
Alice 5
Sarah 5
Amy 3
Eliza 3
Elizabeth 3
Kate 3
Annie 2
Charlotte 2
Ellen 2
Harriet 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Ann 1
Annette 1
Betty 1
Bridget 1
Caroline 1
Clara 1
Elizth. 1
Emma 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Florence 1
Isabella 1
Jane 1
Jennie 1
Julia 1
Lydia 1
Mabel 1
Margaret 1
Marianne 1
Mercy 1
Penelope 1
Phillis 1
Rebecca 1
Roseena 1
Rosina 1
Sophia 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Thomas 11
William 10
George 8
Charles 4
Edward 4
John 4
Richard 3
Robert 3
Walter 3
Henry 2
Philip 2
Wm. 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Clement 1
Cristopher 1
David 1
Frederick 1
Geo. 1
Henery 1
James 1
Joseph 1
Samuel 1
Thos. 1

FAQ

Norley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Norley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 142 people were recorded with the Norley surname. That placed it at #16,012 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Norley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 184 in 2016. That gives Norley a modern rank of #20,731.

What does the Norley surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place named Norley in Cheshire, England.

What does the Norley map show?

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