NameCensus.

UK surname

Otley

An English habitational surname derived from the town of Otley in West Yorkshire.

In the 1881 census there were 504 people recorded with the Otley surname, ranking it #6,740 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 398, ranked #11,924, down from #6,740 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Louth, Silkstone and Preston. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rhondda Cynon Taf, Leeds and Calderdale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Otley is 544 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 21.0%.

1881 census count

504

Ranked #6,740

Modern count

398

2016, ranked #11,924

Peak year

1911

544 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Otley had 504 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,740 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 398 in 2016, ranked #11,924.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 544 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Otley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Otley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Otley 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 363 #6,525
1861 historical 394 #6,504
1881 historical 504 #6,740
1891 historical 472 #7,778
1901 historical 502 #8,032
1911 historical 544 #7,356
1997 modern 457 #9,957
1998 modern 461 #10,220
1999 modern 448 #10,482
2000 modern 431 #10,785
2001 modern 430 #10,619
2002 modern 409 #11,250
2003 modern 386 #11,544
2004 modern 392 #11,453
2005 modern 386 #11,493
2006 modern 396 #11,338
2007 modern 390 #11,596
2008 modern 401 #11,441
2009 modern 406 #11,586
2010 modern 425 #11,423
2011 modern 417 #11,462
2012 modern 413 #11,451
2013 modern 420 #11,489
2014 modern 423 #11,488
2015 modern 404 #11,814
2016 modern 398 #11,924

Geography

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Where Otleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Louth, Silkstone, Preston, St Mary Islington and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rhondda Cynon Taf, Leeds, Calderdale and Blackburn with Darwen. 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 Louth Lincolnshire
2 Silkstone Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Preston Lancashire
4 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)
5 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rhondda Cynon Taf 019 Rhondda Cynon Taf
2 Rhondda Cynon Taf 022 Rhondda Cynon Taf
3 Leeds 033 Leeds
4 Calderdale 005 Calderdale
5 Blackburn with Darwen 017 Blackburn with Darwen

Forenames

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First names often paired with Otley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Otley

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Otley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Otley household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

City Support Workers

Within London, Otley is most associated with areas classed as City Support Workers, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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

Scattered throughout Inner London, these areas house relatively few workers in the most senior roles within organisations, and greater prevalence of administrative roles relative to the Supergroup mean. Residents are less likely to be of Chinese ethnicity and are more likely to have been born in Africa. Relative to the Supergroup average, residents are also more likely to live in social housing and live in overcrowded conditions.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Otley is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Otley falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Otley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 20-25 mbit/s.

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

4
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Otley

The surname Otley originates from England, with its roots tracing back to the 11th century. It is a locational name derived from the town of Otley in West Yorkshire, which was recorded as "Otanlega" in the Domesday Book of 1086. The name is believed to be of Old English origin, composed of the elements "Ota," a personal name, and "lēah," meaning a woodland or clearing.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Willelmus de Otteleia, mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1166. In the 13th century, records show John de Ottelay as a landowner in Otley in 1273. The name's spelling variations over the centuries include Ottelay, Oteley, and Otteley, reflecting the regional accents and scribal practices of the time.

During the 14th century, the surname Otley appeared in various historical documents. In the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire in 1379, the name was recorded as Johannes de Ottelay. The Subsidy Rolls of 1545 mention John Otley, a resident of Liversedge, West Yorkshire.

Notable individuals bearing the surname Otley include:

1. Thomas Otley (c. 1505 - c. 1587), an English Catholic martyr who was hanged, drawn, and quartered for his religious beliefs during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

2. William Otley (1674-1737), an English clergyman and author, best known for his work "A Description of the English Lakes."

3. Jonathan Otley (1766-1836), a British botanical artist and illustrator who contributed to works such as "The Botanical Cabinet" and "The Botanical Register."

4. Sir Francis Otley (1801-1887), a British diplomat and politician who served as the Minister Plenipotentiary to Mexico from 1858 to 1860.

5. William Young Ottley (1771-1836), an English writer, collector, and connoisseur of art, known for his works on Italian Renaissance art and his extensive art collection.

The surname Otley has a rich history rooted in the English countryside, with its earliest bearers hailing from the town of the same name. While the name's popularity may have waxed and waned over the centuries, it has been carried by notable figures across various fields, contributing to the cultural tapestry of England and beyond.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Otley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Otley 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. Yorkshire leads with 188 Otleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.85x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 188 3.85x
Middlesex 66 1.34x
Suffolk 36 6.00x
Worcestershire 31 4.82x
Lancashire 27 0.46x
Lincolnshire 27 3.43x
Essex 23 2.37x
Kent 19 1.13x
Cambridgeshire 14 4.49x
Hampshire 10 0.99x
Warwickshire 9 0.72x
Nottinghamshire 8 1.20x
Surrey 8 0.33x
Cheshire 7 0.64x
Lanarkshire 7 0.44x
Sussex 7 0.84x
Herefordshire 3 1.49x
Norfolk 2 0.26x
Shropshire 2 0.47x
Angus 1 0.22x
Berkshire 1 0.27x
Denbighshire 1 0.54x
Derbyshire 1 0.13x
Devon 1 0.10x
Durham 1 0.07x
Flintshire 1 0.76x
Leicestershire 1 0.18x
Northumberland 1 0.14x
Royal Navy 1 1.70x
Somerset 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sheffield in Yorkshire leads with 21 Otleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.51x.

Place Total Index
Sheffield 21 13.51x
Islington London 18 3.77x
Brightside Bierlow 17 17.76x
Louth 17 94.18x
Preston 17 10.87x
Ecclesall Bierlow 15 15.11x
Salwarpe 13 1805.56x
Claines 12 67.99x
Conisbrough 11 240.17x
Balsham 10 584.80x
Barnsley 10 19.86x
Doncaster 10 28.04x
Nether Hallam 10 15.14x
Great Grimsby 9 18.00x
Birmingham 8 1.93x
Chapel Allerton 8 109.59x
Selby 8 78.43x
Sutton In Ashfield 8 55.52x
Tottenham 8 10.20x
Glasgow 7 2.47x
Hammersmith London 7 5.77x
Lavenham 7 222.93x
Skellow 7 2500.00x
Stapleford Abbots 7 843.37x
Tenterden 7 118.04x
Wombwell 7 49.19x
Little Bolton 6 7.98x
Longwood 6 76.24x
Owston 6 1250.00x
St Marylebone London 6 2.28x
Wakefield 6 16.01x
Wethersfield 6 244.90x
Aldershot 5 14.78x
Brading 5 37.26x
Halifax 5 6.98x
Hessett 5 694.44x
Laleham 5 537.63x
Lewisham 5 5.58x
Mexborough 5 51.60x
Norton 5 396.83x
Rawmarsh 5 29.00x
Stockport 5 8.94x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 4 8.80x
Denaby 4 144.93x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 4 29.39x
Hunslet 4 5.25x
Kimberworth 4 14.77x
Kingston On Thames 4 6.94x
Paddington London 4 2.21x
Poplar London 4 4.30x
Ramsgate 4 14.58x
Arundel 3 64.52x
Brighton 3 1.79x
Camberwell 3 0.95x
Eye 3 252.10x
Fulham London 3 4.20x
Manchester 3 1.14x
Moulton 3 352.94x
Pakenham 3 185.19x
Shalford 3 243.90x
St Giles In Fields 3 17.66x
Stanton 3 211.27x
Tollesbury 3 123.46x
Wivenhoe 3 77.72x
Askrigg 2 190.48x
Beccles 2 20.70x
Bentley Cum Arksey 2 78.43x
Bolton On Dearne 2 118.34x
Bury St Edmunds St James 2 12.48x
Daylesford 2 1000.00x
Hampstead London 2 2.61x
Ingham 2 416.67x
Leeds 2 0.73x
Ludlow St Lawrence 2 23.61x
Plumstead 2 3.57x
St Pancras London 2 0.50x
Wadworth 2 208.33x
Clerkenwell London 1 0.86x
Hunstanton 1 39.06x
Mobberley 1 40.32x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 34
John 22
George 19
Thomas 15
Charles 11
Richard 10
Alfred 9
James 8
Joseph 8
Samuel 7
Henry 6
Tom 5
Walter 5
Albert 4
Arthur 4
Edward 4
Frank 4
Herbert 4
Frederick 3
Harry 3
Robert 3
Fred 2
Fredk. 2
Mathias 2
Auther 1
Charley 1
Chas. 1
Danl. 1
Dd.Jno. 1
Dennis 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Freddy 1
Geo. 1
Harold 1
Hartable 1
Jeremiah 1
Jno.H. 1
Jno.J. 1
Josh 1
Josh. 1
Leonard 1
Lewis 1
Mark 1
Matthias 1
Obadiah 1
Rich. 1
Richd. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Otley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Otley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 504 people were recorded with the Otley surname. That placed it at #6,740 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Otley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 398 in 2016. That gives Otley a modern rank of #11,924.

What does the Otley surname mean?

An English habitational surname derived from the town of Otley in West Yorkshire.

What does the Otley map show?

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