NameCensus.

UK surname

Oatley

A locational surname referring to someone from a place or village named for oat fields or meadows.

In the 1881 census there were 369 people recorded with the Oatley surname, ranking it #8,443 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 608, ranked #8,623, down from #8,443 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Melksham and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bridgend, Wiltshire and Mendip.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Oatley is 646 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 64.8%.

1881 census count

369

Ranked #8,443

Modern count

608

2016, ranked #8,623

Peak year

1999

646 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Oatley had 369 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,443 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 608 in 2016, ranked #8,623.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 563 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Oatley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Oatley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Oatley 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 262 #8,456
1861 historical 228 #10,703
1881 historical 369 #8,443
1891 historical 392 #9,019
1901 historical 501 #8,045
1911 historical 563 #7,163
1997 modern 635 #7,808
1998 modern 643 #7,969
1999 modern 646 #7,994
2000 modern 643 #8,004
2001 modern 629 #7,985
2002 modern 644 #8,007
2003 modern 633 #7,986
2004 modern 620 #8,141
2005 modern 604 #8,238
2006 modern 611 #8,170
2007 modern 612 #8,231
2008 modern 607 #8,330
2009 modern 622 #8,359
2010 modern 639 #8,357
2011 modern 619 #8,482
2012 modern 596 #8,658
2013 modern 611 #8,623
2014 modern 608 #8,709
2015 modern 606 #8,667
2016 modern 608 #8,623

Geography

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Where Oatleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Melksham, London parishes, Pilton, North Wootton, Shepton Mallet, Croscombe and Newchurch. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bridgend, Wiltshire, Mendip and Isle of Wight. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Melksham Wiltshire
3 London parishes London 1
4 Pilton, North Wootton, Shepton Mallet, Croscombe Somerset
5 Newchurch Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bridgend 001 Bridgend
2 Wiltshire 030 Wiltshire
3 Mendip 008 Mendip
4 Isle of Wight 003 Isle of Wight
5 Isle of Wight 012 Isle of Wight

Forenames

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First names often paired with Oatley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Oatley

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Oatley, 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 Oatley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Oatley 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Oatley 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

Oatley 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

Oatley falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Oatley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Oatley

The surname Oatley has its origins in England, where it first emerged in the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "atan" and "leah," which together translate to "oat clearing" or "oat meadow." This suggests that the name likely originated in a location where oats were grown or cultivated.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the Oatley name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire from 1199, where a person named Ralph de Otteleg is mentioned. This spelling variation provides insight into the evolution of the surname over time.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, including Oateleye, Oateley, and Oatelie, as evidenced by records from Oxfordshire and Warwickshire. These different spellings reflect the lack of standardized spelling conventions during that era.

The Oatley surname is also linked to several place names in England, such as Oatley in Yorkshire and Oatley in Somerset. These locations may have served as the original homesteads or areas of residence for early bearers of the name.

One notable individual with the Oatley surname was Sir Thomas Oatley (1545-1624), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire in the late 16th and early 17th centuries.

Another prominent figure was Sir Ralph Oatley (1615-1678), an English merchant and politician who served as the Governor of the East India Company from 1675 to 1677.

In the 18th century, John Oatley (1708-1787) was a notable English engraver and printmaker known for his work in mezzotint and stipple engraving.

The Oatley surname also gained recognition in the field of architecture, with Charles Oatley (1804-1895), an English architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the National Liberal Club.

In the 19th century, Sir William Oatley (1828-1904) was a prominent Australian politician and businessman who served as the Mayor of Sydney from 1887 to 1888.

While the Oatley surname originated in England, it has since spread to various parts of the world, including Australia, Canada, and the United States, carried by individuals and families who migrated from the British Isles over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Oatley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Oatley 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. Wiltshire leads with 86 Oatleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.80x.

County Total Index
Wiltshire 86 26.80x
Middlesex 84 2.31x
Somerset 63 10.79x
Hampshire 36 4.84x
Surrey 18 1.02x
Lancashire 14 0.33x
Worcestershire 11 2.32x
Glamorgan 7 1.11x
Gloucestershire 7 0.98x
Sussex 7 1.14x
Channel Islands 5 4.65x
Essex 5 0.70x
Hertfordshire 5 2.00x
Cheshire 4 0.50x
Norfolk 4 0.72x
Warwickshire 4 0.44x
Kent 3 0.24x
Monmouthshire 3 1.14x
Aberdeenshire 2 0.60x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.44x
Northamptonshire 1 0.29x
Staffordshire 1 0.08x
Yorkshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Melksham in Wiltshire leads with 24 Oatleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 430.88x.

Place Total Index
Melksham 24 430.88x
Box 20 729.93x
Croscombe 18 2500.00x
Whippingham 18 319.72x
Wells St Cuthbert Out 17 361.70x
Hammersmith London 11 12.31x
Malmesbury St Paul 9 326.09x
Rowde 9 608.11x
Chorley 8 33.11x
Christ Church Newgate 8 473.37x
Isleworth 8 49.60x
Trowbridge 8 56.42x
Edmonton 7 23.94x
Hackney London 7 3.44x
Llantrisant 7 43.97x
Northwood 7 66.10x
Powick 7 213.41x
Brighton 6 4.86x
Chelsea London 6 5.49x
Frome 6 42.95x
Newington 6 4.48x
St Luke London 6 10.31x
Barnes 5 66.84x
Bradford On Avon 5 48.69x
Horsley 5 158.73x
Lyncombe Widcombe 5 32.70x
Romsey Extra 5 113.12x
St Pancras London 5 1.71x
West Ham 5 3.16x
Westminster St John 5 11.31x
Brading 4 40.49x
Great Boughton 4 144.93x
Kensington London 4 1.98x
Kidderminster Foreign 4 59.70x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 4 23.88x
Moss Side 4 17.65x
Walcot 4 12.86x
Wells St Cuthbert 4 100.25x
Whitechapel London 4 11.18x
Bathwick 3 46.44x
Bettws Newydd 3 2142.86x
St Brelade 3 108.30x
Watford 3 15.47x
Ashwell 2 102.04x
Aston 2 0.79x
Bromham 2 137.93x
Calne 2 30.26x
Hornsey 2 4.36x
Islington London 2 0.57x
Lambeth 2 0.63x
Paddington London 2 1.50x
Peterhead 2 11.25x
Poplar London 2 2.92x
Rowington 2 194.17x
St Helens 2 36.97x
St Helier 2 5.71x
West Derby 2 1.59x
Westbury 2 26.70x
Woking 2 18.76x
Bath St Michael 1 33.90x
Battersea 1 0.75x
Bristol St James St Paul 1 4.21x
Canterbury St Andrew 1 192.31x
Devizes St James 1 23.47x
Devizes St John 1 41.49x
Dinder 1 384.62x
Frimley 1 19.84x
Fulham London 1 1.90x
Gate Fulford 1 11.90x
Harrow On The Hill 1 13.79x
Hove 1 3.73x
Lewisham 1 1.51x
Northampton All Sts 1 8.64x
Shrewton 1 119.05x
St George Hanover 1 2.11x
Streatham 1 3.71x
Taunton St Mary 1 9.33x
West Lavington 1 64.94x
Westminster St 1 7.47x
Wotton St Mary 1 27.10x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 21
Sarah 13
Elizabeth 12
Eliza 9
Ann 8
Ellen 6
Alice 5
Kate 5
Louisa 5
Annie 4
Caroline 4
Florence 4
Jane 4
Ada 3
Amy 3
Emily 3
Emma 3
Maria 3
A. 2
Clara 2
Edith 2
Fanny 2
Frances 2
Gertrude 2
Hannah 2
Harriet 2
Harriett 2
Julia 2
Lilian 2
Maud 2
Anne 1
Betsey 1
Bridget 1
Canduce 1
Charlotte 1
E. 1
E.A. 1
Eda 1
Eleanor 1
Eliz. 1
Elizth. 1
Evangeline 1
Ger.H.M. 1
Gwen 1
Helen 1
Helena 1
Jessie 1
K. 1
Kezia 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 20
John 17
George 12
James 12
Thomas 11
Albert 10
Henry 9
Joseph 7
Samuel 6
Alfred 5
Arthur 5
Frederick 5
Charles 4
Daniel 4
Edward 3
Ernest 3
Benjamin 2
Edgar 2
Eli 2
Frank 2
Willm. 2
Wm. 2
Clement 1
Danil 1
Danl. 1
Edmund 1
Elijah 1
Ephraim 1
Ethelbert 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Fredk 1
Fredk. 1
G. 1
Geo. 1
Gilbert 1
Herbert 1
Infant 1
Jas.O. 1
Jasper 1
Job 1
Mark 1
Moses 1
Peter 1
Reginald 1
Richard 1
Robert 1
Ruben 1
Stephen 1
Terence 1

FAQ

Oatley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Oatley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 369 people were recorded with the Oatley surname. That placed it at #8,443 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Oatley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 608 in 2016. That gives Oatley a modern rank of #8,623.

What does the Oatley surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from a place or village named for oat fields or meadows.

What does the Oatley map show?

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