NameCensus.

UK surname

Notley

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "the damp clearing" or "the wet meadow".

In the 1881 census there were 562 people recorded with the Notley surname, ranking it #6,164 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,015, ranked #5,737, up from #6,164 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Chard and St John Hackney. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Purbeck, Poole and West Somerset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Notley is 1,036 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 80.6%.

1881 census count

562

Ranked #6,164

Modern count

1,015

2016, ranked #5,737

Peak year

1999

1,036 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Notley had 562 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,164 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,015 in 2016, ranked #5,737.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 911 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Notley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Notley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Notley 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 403 #6,004
1861 historical 318 #7,999
1881 historical 562 #6,164
1891 historical 608 #6,315
1901 historical 767 #5,836
1911 historical 911 #4,901
1997 modern 979 #5,595
1998 modern 1,021 #5,588
1999 modern 1,036 #5,548
2000 modern 1,013 #5,623
2001 modern 987 #5,630
2002 modern 992 #5,732
2003 modern 998 #5,603
2004 modern 988 #5,654
2005 modern 999 #5,555
2006 modern 988 #5,616
2007 modern 964 #5,780
2008 modern 957 #5,847
2009 modern 980 #5,857
2010 modern 997 #5,893
2011 modern 974 #5,930
2012 modern 953 #5,961
2013 modern 1,012 #5,763
2014 modern 1,032 #5,710
2015 modern 1,013 #5,749
2016 modern 1,015 #5,737

Geography

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Where Notleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Chard, St John Hackney and Cardiff St John and St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Purbeck, Poole, West Somerset and West Dorset. 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 1
2 Chard Somerset
3 London parishes London 3
4 St John Hackney London (North Districts)
5 Cardiff St John and St Mary Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Purbeck 005 Purbeck
2 Poole 007 Poole
3 Purbeck 006 Purbeck
4 West Somerset 004 West Somerset
5 West Dorset 009 West Dorset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Notley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Notley

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Notley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Notley 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Notley is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Notley is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Notley falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Notley

The surname Notley has its origins in England and dates back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English words "hnot" meaning nut and "leah" meaning a clearing or meadow, suggesting it originated as a place name referring to a clearing with nut trees.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which mentions a Roger de Notleye in Nottinghamshire. The name is also found in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1334 with a John de Notley listed in Lancashire.

During the medieval period, variations in spelling were common, and the name was also written as Notlee, Notleigh, and Nottley. Some of these spellings may have been influenced by the proximity of certain locations to the town of Nottingham.

In the 16th century, the name appears in the Parish Registers of St. Mary's Church in Nottingham, with the baptism of a John Notley recorded in 1578. Around the same time, a William Notley was listed as a resident of Wigan in Lancashire in the 1592 Subsidy Rolls.

Several notable individuals have borne the Notley surname throughout history. One of the earliest was Sir William Notley (c. 1450 - 1528), a prominent merchant and Lord Mayor of London in 1522. Another was Thomas Notley (c. 1560 - 1623), an English clergyman and author who wrote a treatise on the Decalogue.

In the 18th century, Thomas Notley (1688 - 1767) was a successful merchant and landowner in Nottinghamshire, while his son, also named Thomas Notley (1726 - 1802), was a notable clergyman and author of several religious works.

Moving into the 19th century, John Notley (1809 - 1889) was a respected engineer and inventor who patented several improvements to agricultural machinery. Additionally, Frederick Notley (1853 - 1924) was a British artist known for his landscapes and portraits.

The Notley surname has been associated with various locations throughout England, particularly in the counties of Nottinghamshire, Lancashire, and Yorkshire, where it has had a long-standing presence.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Notley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Notley 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. Surrey leads with 83 Notleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.13x.

County Total Index
Surrey 83 3.13x
Suffolk 74 11.16x
Dorset 58 16.24x
Middlesex 58 1.07x
Essex 49 4.56x
Norfolk 46 5.50x
Somerset 31 3.54x
Bedfordshire 22 7.81x
Devon 20 1.77x
Kent 17 0.92x
Herefordshire 14 6.27x
Hampshire 11 0.99x
Midlothian 10 1.37x
Sussex 9 0.98x
Yorkshire 7 0.13x
Durham 6 0.37x
Lancashire 6 0.09x
Glamorgan 5 0.53x
Derbyshire 4 0.47x
Worcestershire 4 0.56x
Berkshire 3 0.73x
Cambridgeshire 3 0.87x
Cornwall 3 0.49x
Gloucestershire 3 0.28x
Staffordshire 3 0.16x
Warwickshire 2 0.15x
Wiltshire 2 0.42x
Hertfordshire 1 0.27x
Lincolnshire 1 0.11x
Monmouthshire 1 0.25x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.14x
Royal Navy 1 1.54x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wilshampstead in Bedfordshire leads with 19 Notleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1241.83x.

Place Total Index
Wilshampstead 19 1241.83x
Camberwell 16 4.60x
Chard 16 150.80x
Hackney London 14 4.59x
Egham 12 73.71x
Great Bromley 12 888.89x
Shoreditch London 12 5.09x
Battersea 11 5.49x
Bramfield 10 854.70x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 10 3.41x
Fordington 10 129.87x
South Shoebury 10 231.48x
Weymouth 10 147.71x
Owermoigne 9 1139.24x
Bedminster 8 9.72x
Churchstanton 8 575.54x
Cradley 8 245.40x
Fulmodestone Cum Croxton 8 1194.03x
Mendham 8 567.38x
St Marylebone London 8 2.75x
Stradbroke 8 357.14x
Chelmsford 7 37.98x
Guildford St Nicholas 7 149.25x
Kettleburgh 7 1296.30x
Lambeth 7 1.47x
Spitalfields London 7 17.10x
Hastings St Andrew 6 182.37x
Leigh 6 800.00x
Little Bromley 6 857.14x
Penge 6 17.26x
Richmond 6 16.14x
Barugh 5 109.65x
Eye 5 116.82x
Halesworth 5 106.38x
Llanwonno 5 14.68x
Norwich St Saviour 5 170.07x
Streatham 5 12.38x
Upway 5 367.65x
West Ham 5 2.11x
Bradeston 4 1290.32x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 4 32.15x
Derby St Werburgh 4 8.13x
East Harling 4 201.01x
Heigham 4 8.90x
Hepworth 4 404.04x
Islington London 4 0.76x
Leominster 4 43.29x
Long Ditton 4 92.38x
Millbrook 4 14.23x
Norwich St Peter 4 72.86x
Parkstone 4 95.92x
Puddletown 4 182.65x
Shottesham St Mary 4 677.97x
Thorncombe 4 195.12x
Withersfield 4 373.83x
Alfrick 3 357.14x
Blandford Forum 3 42.55x
Blo Norton 3 666.67x
Bradfield St George 3 361.45x
Canterbury St Gregory 3 122.45x
Canterbury St Mary N 3 240.00x
Coundon 3 45.73x
Diptford 3 241.94x
Hammersmith London 3 2.24x
Hastings St Mary 3 13.13x
Ilketshall St Margaret 3 566.04x
Leek Lowe 3 12.27x
Lewisham 3 3.03x
Luton 3 6.15x
Midsomer Norton 3 36.36x
Norwich St Benedict 3 80.43x
Thurston 3 230.77x
Tintagel 3 178.57x
Wonersh 3 90.63x
Aldershot 2 5.35x
Bermondsey 2 1.23x
Fittleton 2 307.69x
Hemyock 2 118.34x
Sampford Peverell 2 166.67x
Southampton St Mary 2 2.85x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 26
Elizabeth 22
Sarah 18
Emily 17
Alice 11
Eliza 9
Ellen 9
Ann 7
Emma 7
Martha 7
Florence 6
Hannah 6
Ada 5
Annie 5
Louisa 5
Gertrude 4
Harriet 4
Harriett 4
Agnes 3
Amelia 3
Catherine 3
Jane 3
Kate 3
Margaret 3
Matilda 3
Rosa 3
Susan 3
Amy 2
Anna 2
Anne 2
Bertha 2
Emeline 2
Esther 2
Julia 2
Laura 2
Lizzie 2
Lucy 2
Minnie 2
Sophia 2
Besse 1
Bessie 1
Caroline 1
Eliz. 1
Elizth. 1
Ella 1
Georgina 1
Harrt. 1
Helen 1
Henrietta 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 38
Henry 24
George 21
Charles 16
John 15
James 12
Alfred 11
Thomas 11
Robert 9
Arthur 8
Frederick 8
Edward 7
Albert 6
Harry 5
Joseph 5
Samuel 4
Walter 4
Frank 3
Fredrick 3
Jonathan 3
Lewis 3
Richard 3
Alphonso 2
Fredk. 2
Maurice 2
Nathan 2
Archer 1
Bertie 1
Cornish 1
Easu 1
Edgar 1
Edwin 1
Fenwick 1
Francis 1
Fred. 1
G.C. 1
Gipson 1
Harnald 1
Harvey 1
Horace 1
Jacob 1
Jasper 1
Job 1
Leslie 1
Marmion 1
Marwood 1
Matthew 1
Mejah 1
Nehemiah 1
Wm.G. 1

FAQ

Notley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Notley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 562 people were recorded with the Notley surname. That placed it at #6,164 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Notley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,015 in 2016. That gives Notley a modern rank of #5,737.

What does the Notley surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "the damp clearing" or "the wet meadow".

What does the Notley map show?

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