NameCensus.

UK surname

Ongley

From a locality, possibly referring to someone who lived near an oak meadow or clearing.

In the 1881 census there were 186 people recorded with the Ongley surname, ranking it #13,448 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 227, ranked #17,992, down from #13,448 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Tunbridge, Bidborough, London parishes and Horley, Leigh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wiltshire, Medway and Maidstone.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ongley is 300 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 22.0%.

1881 census count

186

Ranked #13,448

Modern count

227

2016, ranked #17,992

Peak year

1911

300 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ongley had 186 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,448 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 227 in 2016, ranked #17,992.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 300 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Ongley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ongley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ongley 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 127 #14,547
1861 historical 90 #22,312
1881 historical 186 #13,448
1891 historical 231 #13,472
1901 historical 266 #12,617
1911 historical 300 #11,441
1997 modern 248 #15,363
1998 modern 250 #15,675
1999 modern 247 #15,932
2000 modern 242 #16,101
2001 modern 241 #15,870
2002 modern 244 #16,085
2003 modern 239 #16,093
2004 modern 247 #15,821
2005 modern 241 #16,036
2006 modern 234 #16,493
2007 modern 233 #16,752
2008 modern 241 #16,481
2009 modern 242 #16,789
2010 modern 244 #17,056
2011 modern 236 #17,279
2012 modern 234 #17,291
2013 modern 231 #17,703
2014 modern 236 #17,577
2015 modern 231 #17,733
2016 modern 227 #17,992

Geography

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Where Ongleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Tunbridge, Bidborough, London parishes, Horley, Leigh, Yalding, Aylesford, Burham, Mereworth, Wateringbury, Nettlestead and St Giles Camberwell. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wiltshire, Medway and Maidstone. 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 Tunbridge, Bidborough Kent
2 London parishes London 3
3 Horley, Leigh Surrey
4 Yalding, Aylesford, Burham, Mereworth, Wateringbury, Nettlestead Kent
5 St Giles Camberwell London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wiltshire 010 Wiltshire
2 Medway 038 Medway
3 Maidstone 001 Maidstone
4 Medway 020 Medway
5 Medway 031 Medway

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ongley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ongley

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

Ongley 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

Ongley falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Ongley

The surname Ongley is believed to have originated in England, with roots dating back to the medieval period. This name is thought to derive from the Old English words "ang" or "ange," meaning "narrow" or "confined," and "leah," meaning a meadow or clearing in a forest.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ongley can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landholdings and property ownership commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry mentions an individual named Ongley who held land in the county of Yorkshire.

During the Middle Ages, the name was often spelled in various ways, such as Ongelegh, Ongelie, and Ongelye, reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling conventions of the time. These variations were likely influenced by the different dialects spoken in the areas where the name was prevalent.

In the 13th century, records show an Ongley family holding land in the village of Ongley, near Chesterfield in Derbyshire. This village may have been named after the family or vice versa, but it is a clear indication of the name's early presence in the area.

One notable individual bearing the Ongley surname was Sir Robert Ongley (c. 1460 - 1528), a member of the English gentry and a prominent figure during the reigns of Henry VII and Henry VIII. He served as a Member of Parliament and held various positions of authority in Staffordshire and Derbyshire.

Another significant figure was John Ongley (1624 - 1705), an English Puritan minister and author who served as the rector of Little Musgrave in Westmorland. He is known for his published works, including "The Old Puritan's Principles and Practices Revived" and "A Discourse on Repentance."

In the 18th century, Samuel Ongley (1718 - 1786) was a notable English poet and playwright. He is best remembered for his satirical play "The Footman's Miscellany," which was performed at the Drury Lane Theatre in London.

The name Ongley also has connections to the United States, where it was likely brought by English immigrants during the colonial era. One early example is Joseph Ongley (1763 - 1839), a soldier who fought in the American Revolutionary War and later settled in Virginia.

Furthermore, William Ongley (1801 - 1875) was a prominent American architect and civil engineer who designed several notable buildings in New York City, including the Old Merchants' Exchange and the New York Crystal Palace for the Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations in 1853.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ongley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ongley 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. Kent leads with 85 Ongleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.73x.

County Total Index
Kent 85 13.73x
Surrey 76 8.60x
Middlesex 10 0.55x
Berkshire 4 2.94x
Essex 3 0.84x
Cheshire 2 0.50x
Northumberland 2 0.74x
Sussex 2 0.65x
Leicestershire 1 0.50x
Warwickshire 1 0.22x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Croydon in Surrey leads with 16 Ongleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.61x.

Place Total Index
Croydon 16 32.61x
Camberwell 14 12.08x
Wateringbury 12 1481.48x
Southwark St George Martyr 11 30.13x
Reigate Foreign 9 94.04x
Lambeth 8 5.06x
West Peckham 8 2758.62x
Milton In Milton 7 266.16x
East Malling 6 405.41x
Tonbridge 6 26.88x
Bekesbourne 5 2380.95x
Horley 5 337.84x
Southwark St Saviour 5 53.65x
Streatham 5 37.15x
West Farleigh 5 2083.33x
Birling 4 727.27x
Deal 4 75.76x
Hadlow 4 259.74x
Maidstone 4 21.69x
Reading St Giles 4 29.94x
Boxley 3 315.79x
Bredhurst 3 3750.00x
Otford 3 348.84x
Plumstead 3 14.54x
West Ham 3 3.79x
Chatham 2 11.74x
Clapham 2 8.82x
Claughton With Grange 2 109.89x
Elswick 2 9.29x
Hackney London 2 1.97x
Hampton London 2 67.11x
Limehouse London 2 10.04x
Offham 2 909.09x
Rainham 2 117.65x
Canterbury St Mary 1 24.10x
Cuckfield 1 32.36x
East Grinstead 1 23.09x
Eltham 1 27.55x
Islington London 1 0.57x
Paddington London 1 1.50x
Rugby 1 16.16x
Shalford 1 102.04x
Somerby 1 303.03x
St Marylebone London 1 1.03x
Westminster St James 1 5.36x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 13
Elizabeth 11
Charlotte 5
Ellen 5
Alice 4
Annie 4
Emily 4
Sarah 3
Ada 2
Amelia 2
Emma 2
Fanny 2
Jane 2
Kezia 2
Laura 2
Rose 2
Agnes 1
Ann 1
Anna 1
Anne 1
Clara 1
E. 1
Edith 1
Evelyn 1
Fillian 1
Flora 1
Florance 1
Frances 1
Grace 1
Harriet 1
Jessie 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Katherine 1
Lilian 1
Louisa 1
Louise 1
M.A. 1
Margaret 1
Martha 1
Maryanne 1
Minnie 1
Susan 1
Teresa 1
W.A. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Alfred 10
George 10
William 9
Thomas 8
Henry 7
Albert 4
Frederick 4
John 4
Walter 4
Arthur 3
Edwin 3
Charles 2
Edward 2
Fredrick 2
James 2
Percy 2
Archibald 1
Chisholm 1
Daniel 1
Earnest 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Infant 1
Joseph 1
Lewes 1
Owen 1
Peter 1
Richard 1
Robert 1
Stephen 1

FAQ

Ongley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ongley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 186 people were recorded with the Ongley surname. That placed it at #13,448 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ongley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 227 in 2016. That gives Ongley a modern rank of #17,992.

What does the Ongley surname mean?

From a locality, possibly referring to someone who lived near an oak meadow or clearing.

What does the Ongley map show?

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