NameCensus.

UK surname

Oxley

From a place name derived from Old English meaning "a clearing in the woods where oxen are pastured."

In the 1881 census there were 4,199 people recorded with the Oxley surname, ranking it #1,072 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5,671, ranked #1,181, down from #1,072 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tendring, Rotherham and Sheffield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Oxley is 6,035 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 35.1%.

1881 census count

4,199

Ranked #1,072

Modern count

5,671

2016, ranked #1,181

Peak year

1999

6,035 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Oxley had 4,199 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,072 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 5,671 in 2016, ranked #1,181.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5,716 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Oxley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Oxley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Oxley 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 2,610 #1,132
1861 historical 2,405 #1,218
1881 historical 4,199 #1,072
1891 historical 4,401 #1,074
1901 historical 5,116 #1,097
1911 historical 5,716 #918
1997 modern 5,811 #1,131
1998 modern 6,003 #1,132
1999 modern 6,035 #1,132
2000 modern 5,917 #1,145
2001 modern 5,798 #1,144
2002 modern 5,870 #1,152
2003 modern 5,757 #1,150
2004 modern 5,657 #1,160
2005 modern 5,559 #1,162
2006 modern 5,509 #1,177
2007 modern 5,570 #1,170
2008 modern 5,592 #1,174
2009 modern 5,726 #1,172
2010 modern 5,912 #1,163
2011 modern 5,839 #1,165
2012 modern 5,728 #1,161
2013 modern 5,764 #1,170
2014 modern 5,798 #1,171
2015 modern 5,697 #1,185
2016 modern 5,671 #1,181

Geography

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Where Oxleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes, Gateshead and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Tendring, Rotherham, Sheffield, Amber Valley and Gateshead. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 London parishes London 3
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Tendring 006 Tendring
2 Rotherham 009 Rotherham
3 Sheffield 012 Sheffield
4 Amber Valley 003 Amber Valley
5 Gateshead 024 Gateshead

Forenames

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First names often paired with Oxley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Oxley

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Oxley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Oxley household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Oxley is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Oxley is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Oxley 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 Oxley 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 Oxley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Oxley

The surname Oxley originated in England during the Anglo-Saxon period. It is a locational name derived from the Old English words "oxa" meaning ox and "leah" meaning a clearing or meadow, indicating that the name likely referred to a person living near an ox-meadow.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Oxley can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Oxenholeia" in Norfolk. This suggests that the name was already in use by the time of the Norman Conquest.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms such as "de Oxenley" and "Oxenleye," reflecting the evolving spellings and pronunciations of the time. The earliest known bearer of the name was Richard de Oxenley, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1190.

The Oxley family had a notable presence in Staffordshire, where they owned lands and estates. One of the most prominent figures from this lineage was Sir James Oxley (1554-1625), a wealthy landowner and Member of Parliament for Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Another notable bearer of the name was John Oxley (1785-1828), an English explorer and surveyor who led several expeditions in Australia. He is best known for his exploration of the Tweed River and the Oxley Creek in Queensland, which was named after him.

In literature, the name Oxley is associated with the character of Mr. Oxley in Jane Austen's novel "Emma," published in 1815. Mr. Oxley is described as a wealthy landowner and a member of the local gentry.

Other notable individuals with the surname Oxley include Joseph Oxley (1715-1786), an English portrait painter and member of the Royal Academy, and Sir Henry Oxley (1808-1896), a British naval officer and politician who served as the Governor of Antigua.

While the surname Oxley is not as common as some other English surnames, it has a long and rich history dating back to the Anglo-Saxon period. Its origins and meanings are deeply rooted in the English landscape and the lives of those who bore this name throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Oxley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Oxley 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 1,853 Oxleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.57x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 1,853 4.57x
Durham 382 3.14x
Middlesex 378 0.92x
Lancashire 295 0.61x
Surrey 191 0.96x
Kent 153 1.10x
Northumberland 125 2.05x
Lincolnshire 105 1.61x
Essex 101 1.25x
Derbyshire 89 1.39x
Nottinghamshire 80 1.45x
Sussex 68 0.99x
Somerset 58 0.88x
Northamptonshire 40 1.04x
Staffordshire 35 0.25x
Gloucestershire 34 0.42x
Cheshire 31 0.34x
Warwickshire 30 0.29x
Berkshire 25 0.81x
Buckinghamshire 23 0.93x
Suffolk 17 0.34x
Hampshire 12 0.14x
Oxfordshire 10 0.40x
Worcestershire 9 0.17x
West Lothian 8 1.30x
Norfolk 7 0.11x
Devon 6 0.07x
Cumberland 5 0.14x
Dorset 5 0.19x
Wiltshire 5 0.14x
Hertfordshire 4 0.14x
Aberdeenshire 2 0.05x
Glamorgan 2 0.03x
Lanarkshire 2 0.02x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.04x
Leicestershire 1 0.02x
Midlothian 1 0.02x
Royal Navy 1 0.21x

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 204 Oxleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.81x.

Place Total Index
Sheffield 204 15.81x
Brightside Bierlow 93 11.70x
Whickham 75 66.97x
Ecclesall Bierlow 69 8.37x
Warrington 65 11.29x
Nether Hallam 58 10.57x
Rotherham 58 25.38x
Islington London 53 1.34x
St Pancras London 51 1.55x
Leeds 48 2.10x
Heckmondwike 45 34.51x
Barnsley 44 10.52x
Wath On Dearne 43 53.16x
Crigglestone 42 107.58x
Lambeth 41 1.15x
Dewsbury 40 9.62x
Camberwell 36 1.38x
Gateshead 36 3.95x
Batley 33 8.57x
Bradford 31 3.16x
Manchester 31 1.42x
Kimberworth 30 13.33x
Walton Le Soken 30 156.25x
Rawmarsh 29 20.25x
Huddersfield 28 4.74x
Wakefield 28 9.00x
Wallsend 28 14.50x
Ardsley 25 53.51x
Darlington 25 5.32x
Hunslet 25 3.95x
Scarborough 25 6.79x
Shoreditch London 25 1.41x
Brampton Bierlow 24 46.23x
Holmside 24 80.00x
Kirkburton 24 50.21x
Greasbrough 23 42.96x
Milton 23 225.93x
Battersea 22 1.46x
Heanor 22 22.97x
Middlesbrough 22 4.17x
Bishopwearmouth 21 2.01x
Tonbridge 21 4.17x
Ecclesfield 20 6.73x
Hackney London 20 0.87x
Poplar London 20 2.59x
Handsworth 19 17.73x
Mirfield 19 8.54x
Newington 19 1.26x
Gildersome 18 36.93x
Holbeck 18 6.70x
Kensington London 18 0.79x
Stretford 18 6.74x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 17 4.50x
Beverley St Mary 17 28.71x
Brighton 17 1.22x
Gainsborough 17 11.02x
Hexham 17 18.04x
St Marylebone London 17 0.78x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 16 10.87x
Gomersal 16 8.46x
St George Hanover 16 3.00x
Tynemouth 16 4.91x
Clapham 15 2.93x
Doncaster 15 5.06x
Drighlington 15 25.40x
Hammersmith London 15 1.49x
Wombwell 15 12.69x
Headingley Cum Burley 14 5.36x
Sculcoates 14 2.18x
Morley 13 6.17x
Sandal Magna 13 21.68x
Tunstall 13 21.45x
Balby Cum Hexthorpe 12 24.80x
Brenchley 12 24.02x
Clifton 12 2.96x
Colchester St James 12 36.66x
Lepton 12 28.34x
Mexborough 12 14.91x
Nottingham St Mary 12 0.84x
Stockton On Tees 12 2.05x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 329
Elizabeth 184
Sarah 177
Jane 84
Ann 72
Emma 67
Annie 60
Hannah 56
Ellen 54
Eliza 47
Margaret 41
Alice 39
Emily 35
Ada 33
Clara 30
Louisa 30
Martha 30
Harriet 27
Florence 26
Edith 25
Kate 25
Isabella 23
Anne 19
Caroline 19
Maria 18
Catherine 17
Charlotte 17
Frances 17
Fanny 15
Harriett 15
Rachel 13
Rebecca 13
Jessie 12
Lucy 11
Rose 11
Agnes 10
Susannah 10
Amelia 9
Elizth. 9
Ethel 9
Ruth 9
Dorothy 8
Lilian 8
Lizzie 8
Matilda 8
Minnie 8
Phoebe 8
Selina 8
Sophia 8
Gertrude 7

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 246
William 235
George 153
Thomas 141
James 111
Joseph 105
Henry 87
Charles 73
Alfred 57
Robert 57
Edward 43
Arthur 40
Samuel 36
Walter 34
Frederick 32
Richard 28
Harry 27
Frank 26
Albert 24
Herbert 21
Fred 20
Tom 18
Ernest 16
Francis 16
Edwin 15
David 13
Joshua 12
Benjamin 10
Wm. 9
Chas. 8
Fredk. 8
Wilfred 8
Fredrick 7
Percy 7
Abraham 6
Christopher 6
Joe 6
Jonathan 6
Robt. 6
Edgar 5
Fred. 5
Harold 5
Horace 5
Matthew 5
Saml. 5
Thos. 5
Geo. 4
Jno. 4
Mark 4
Oliver 4

FAQ

Oxley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Oxley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4,199 people were recorded with the Oxley surname. That placed it at #1,072 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Oxley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 5,671 in 2016. That gives Oxley a modern rank of #1,181.

What does the Oxley surname mean?

From a place name derived from Old English meaning "a clearing in the woods where oxen are pastured."

What does the Oxley map show?

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