NameCensus.

UK surname

Offley

A locational surname derived from a place name in Hertfordshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 128 people recorded with the Offley surname, ranking it #17,079 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 177, ranked #21,230, down from #17,079 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Walthamstow, Low Leyton, Terrington St Clement, Terrington St John and St Luke. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Cheshire West and Chester and Thanet.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Offley is 192 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 38.3%.

1881 census count

128

Ranked #17,079

Modern count

177

2016, ranked #21,230

Peak year

1998

192 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Offley had 128 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,079 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 177 in 2016, ranked #21,230.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 185 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Offley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Offley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Offley 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 84 #19,067
1861 historical 96 #21,648
1881 historical 128 #17,079
1891 historical 160 #17,555
1901 historical 169 #16,824
1911 historical 185 #15,686
1997 modern 182 #18,693
1998 modern 192 #18,561
1999 modern 190 #18,797
2000 modern 187 #18,990
2001 modern 187 #18,708
2002 modern 189 #18,950
2003 modern 181 #19,277
2004 modern 182 #19,306
2005 modern 166 #20,379
2006 modern 161 #20,972
2007 modern 159 #21,387
2008 modern 162 #21,350
2009 modern 171 #21,024
2010 modern 175 #21,186
2011 modern 182 #20,495
2012 modern 169 #21,437
2013 modern 171 #21,654
2014 modern 177 #21,340
2015 modern 175 #21,372
2016 modern 177 #21,230

Geography

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Where Offleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Walthamstow, Low Leyton, Terrington St Clement, Terrington St John, St Luke, Cambridge: St Andrew the Less, St Andrew the Great, Holy Trinity, St Benedict and Wisbech St Peter. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Cheshire West and Chester, Thanet and Cherwell. 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 Walthamstow, Low Leyton Essex
2 Terrington St Clement, Terrington St John Cambridgeshire
3 St Luke London (Central Districts)
4 Cambridge: St Andrew the Less, St Andrew the Great, Holy Trinity, St Benedict Cambridgeshire
5 Wisbech St Peter Cambridgeshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 014 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
2 Cheshire West and Chester 014 Cheshire West and Chester
3 Cheshire West and Chester 025 Cheshire West and Chester
4 Thanet 002 Thanet
5 Cherwell 005 Cherwell

Forenames

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First names often paired with Offley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Offley

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Offley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Offley household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Young Asian Family Terraces

Within London, Offley is most associated with areas classed as Young Asian Family Terraces, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 households with dependent children typically live in terraced housing and are of (non-Chinese) Asian extraction. Individuals with Bangladeshi origins are particularly in evidence. Employment is often in elementary occupations or as process, plant or machine operatives, and part-time work is common. Students are much in evidence.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Offley 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

Offley falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Offley

The surname Offley originates from England and can be traced back to the late 11th century. It is believed to derive from the Old English words "ofer" meaning ridge or bank, and "leah" meaning a clearing or meadow, suggesting its earliest bearers lived near a ridge or bank in a clearing.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is spelled "Offelie". This entry refers to a settlement in Hertfordshire, indicating the name's geographic origins. Over time, various spellings emerged, such as Offelegh, Offley, and Offly.

The Offley family had strong ties to Staffordshire, particularly in the village of Offley Hay, which likely took its name from the surname. In the 13th century, records mention a Richard de Offleye, suggesting the family's prominence in the region during that period.

In the 15th century, a notable figure with the surname was John Offley (c. 1410-1475), a wealthy merchant from Chester who served as the city's mayor in 1457 and 1464. His descendants established themselves as landowners in Staffordshire and Shropshire.

Another prominent individual was Sir Thomas Offley (c. 1530-1582), a wealthy London merchant and Lord Mayor of London in 1556. He was a benefactor of several charitable organizations and founded a free grammar school in Bakewell, Derbyshire, which still bears his name.

During the 17th century, Robert Offley (1598-1679) was a renowned English politician and lawyer who served as the Speaker of the House of Commons from 1660 to 1667. He played a significant role in the Restoration of the monarchy after the English Civil War.

In the 18th century, David Offley (1712-1768) was a notable English politician and Member of Parliament for Derbyshire from 1761 until his death in 1768. He was also a prominent landowner and held the position of High Sheriff of Derbyshire in 1753.

Throughout its history, the Offley surname has been associated with various place names, including Offley Hay in Staffordshire, Offley Marsh in Hertfordshire, and Offley Green in Buckinghamshire, further solidifying its connection to specific geographic locations in England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Offley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Offley 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. Cambridgeshire leads with 22 Offleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.82x.

County Total Index
Cambridgeshire 22 27.82x
Middlesex 19 1.52x
Essex 16 6.49x
Norfolk 16 8.33x
Staffordshire 13 3.08x
Derbyshire 10 5.12x
Gloucestershire 6 2.45x
Surrey 6 0.99x
Leicestershire 5 3.61x
Lincolnshire 4 2.00x
Dorset 2 2.44x
Lancashire 2 0.14x
Somerset 2 1.00x
Sussex 2 0.95x
Devon 1 0.38x
Huntingdonshire 1 4.03x
Suffolk 1 0.66x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Andrewthe Less in Cambridgeshire leads with 14 Offleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 154.87x.

Place Total Index
St Andrewthe Less 14 154.87x
Leyton Low 10 199.60x
Terrington St Clement 10 1149.43x
Darlaston 7 120.27x
Bermondsey 6 16.14x
West Ham 6 11.03x
Willenhall 6 76.05x
Hornsey 5 31.67x
Osmaston 5 3125.00x
Shoreditch London 5 9.24x
Smalley 5 1428.57x
Great Grimsby 4 31.57x
Islington London 4 3.31x
Leicester St Margaret 4 11.85x
Shouldham 4 1481.48x
Wisbech St Peter 4 100.76x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 3 13.01x
Eastbourne 2 20.64x
Gloucester St Michael 2 357.14x
St Giles Cambridge 2 196.08x
Walcot 2 18.69x
West Walton 2 540.54x
Gloucester Kingsholm St 1 109.89x
Hackney London 1 1.43x
Linton 1 133.33x
Manchester 1 1.50x
Newmarket St Mary 1 85.47x
North Meols 1 6.90x
Paddington London 1 2.18x
Portland 1 22.68x
St Giles In Fields 1 23.20x
St Ives 1 77.52x
St Luke London 1 4.99x
St Paul Covent Garden 1 80.00x
Stoke Damerel 1 5.50x
Whittlesey St Mary St 1 36.23x
Wigston Magna 1 54.35x
Wyke Regis 1 84.75x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 10
Arthur 5
Charles 5
George 5
John 5
Harry 4
Henry 4
Daniel 3
Robert 3
Thomas 3
David 2
Joseph 2
Stephen 2
Alexander 1
Alfred 1
Edward 1
Farmer 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Geo. 1
Goddard 1
Herbert 1
Michael 1
Samuel 1

FAQ

Offley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Offley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 128 people were recorded with the Offley surname. That placed it at #17,079 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Offley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 177 in 2016. That gives Offley a modern rank of #21,230.

What does the Offley surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name in Hertfordshire, England.

What does the Offley map show?

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