NameCensus.

UK surname

Padley

An English habitational surname referring to someone from Padley, Derbyshire.

In the 1881 census there were 804 people recorded with the Padley surname, ranking it #4,636 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,140, ranked #5,172, down from #4,636 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ecclesfield (Ecclesfield), Rotherham (Dalton), Conisborough, Basford and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rotherham, Bassetlaw and Sheffield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Padley is 1,219 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 41.8%.

1881 census count

804

Ranked #4,636

Modern count

1,140

2016, ranked #5,172

Peak year

2011

1,219 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Padley had 804 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,636 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,140 in 2016, ranked #5,172.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,106 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Padley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Padley surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Padley 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 641 #4,050
1861 historical 647 #4,153
1881 historical 804 #4,636
1891 historical 839 #4,858
1901 historical 1,014 #4,703
1911 historical 1,106 #4,197
1997 modern 1,182 #4,774
1998 modern 1,180 #4,948
1999 modern 1,183 #4,995
2000 modern 1,171 #5,009
2001 modern 1,159 #4,959
2002 modern 1,175 #4,985
2003 modern 1,140 #5,033
2004 modern 1,154 #4,989
2005 modern 1,161 #4,894
2006 modern 1,153 #4,924
2007 modern 1,142 #5,014
2008 modern 1,169 #4,941
2009 modern 1,180 #5,008
2010 modern 1,206 #5,020
2011 modern 1,219 #4,910
2012 modern 1,174 #4,996
2013 modern 1,163 #5,124
2014 modern 1,170 #5,130
2015 modern 1,147 #5,167
2016 modern 1,140 #5,172

Geography

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Where Padleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ecclesfield (Ecclesfield), Rotherham (Dalton), Conisborough, Basford, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Revesby, Mareham-le-Fen and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rotherham, Bassetlaw, Sheffield and North Kesteven. 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 Ecclesfield (Ecclesfield), Rotherham (Dalton), Conisborough Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Basford Nottinghamshire
3 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
4 Revesby, Mareham-le-Fen Lincolnshire
5 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rotherham 013 Rotherham
2 Bassetlaw 004 Bassetlaw
3 Sheffield 009 Sheffield
4 North Kesteven 012 North Kesteven
5 North Kesteven 008 North Kesteven

Forenames

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First names often paired with Padley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Padley

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Padley, 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 Padley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Padley 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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Established Homeowners with Children

Within London, Padley is most associated with areas classed as Established Homeowners with Children, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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 predominantly British-born residents are typically married/in civil partnerships and own the properties in which they are raising their children. Parents are typically over 45, and many other residents are beyond normal retirement age. Detached and semi-detached houses predominate and multiple car ownership is common.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Padley 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

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

Meaning and origin of Padley

The surname Padley originated in England, with records indicating its presence in the country as early as the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from a place name, specifically the village of Padley in Derbyshire. This area was once known as Padenlei, which comes from the Old English words "padan" meaning "valley" and "leah" meaning "clearing" or "meadow."

One of the earliest documented references to the surname Padley can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it appears as "de Padley." This suggests that the name was initially used as a locative surname, identifying individuals based on their place of origin or residence.

In the 14th century, records show variations of the spelling, including Padeley,Padeleye, and Padele, reflecting the evolution of language over time. The Padley family is also mentioned in the Derbyshire Visitation Pedigrees of 1662, providing insight into the family's history and connections.

One notable figure associated with the Padley surname was Sir John Padley (c. 1375-1452), a wealthy landowner and Member of Parliament for Derbyshire during the reign of Henry VI. Another notable individual was Francis Padley (1556-1591), a Catholic martyr who was executed during the Elizabethan era for his involvement in the Babington Plot to assassinate Queen Elizabeth I.

In the 16th century, the Padley name was also associated with the Padley family of Bakewell, Derbyshire. This family was involved in the wool trade and became prominent landowners in the region. One member, Godfrey Padley (1520-1588), played a significant role in the local community and served as a justice of the peace.

The 17th century saw the rise of another notable figure, Sir William Padley (1615-1682), a successful merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1679. He was knighted by King Charles II for his contributions to the city.

Throughout its history, the Padley surname has been closely tied to the Derbyshire region in England, with many families and individuals bearing the name making their mark in various fields, including politics, religion, and commerce.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Padley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Padley 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 241 Padleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.10x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 241 3.10x
Lincolnshire 176 14.02x
Nottinghamshire 87 8.22x
Middlesex 48 0.61x
Lancashire 40 0.43x
Derbyshire 26 2.11x
Glamorgan 25 1.83x
Oxfordshire 21 4.33x
Warwickshire 18 0.91x
Dorset 14 2.72x
Kent 13 0.49x
Suffolk 12 1.25x
Surrey 12 0.31x
Leicestershire 11 1.26x
Berkshire 9 1.53x
Worcestershire 9 0.88x
Essex 6 0.39x
Cheshire 5 0.29x
Hampshire 5 0.31x
Staffordshire 5 0.19x
Sussex 5 0.38x
Wigtownshire 4 3.84x
Durham 3 0.13x
Shropshire 2 0.29x
Angus 1 0.14x
Cornwall 1 0.11x
Devon 1 0.06x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.47x
Lanarkshire 1 0.04x
Northamptonshire 1 0.14x
Royal Navy 1 1.07x
Somerset 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ecclesall Bierlow in Yorkshire leads with 46 Padleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.06x.

Place Total Index
Ecclesall Bierlow 46 29.06x
Sheffield 21 8.48x
Chipping Norton 20 178.41x
Mareham Le Fen 19 959.60x
Swansea Town 19 16.95x
Brightside Bierlow 17 11.14x
Ecclesfield 15 26.29x
Holy Trinity 15 8.01x
Boston 14 36.76x
Poole St James 14 72.31x
Welton In The Marsh 14 1386.14x
Basford 13 26.65x
Wickersley 13 604.65x
Aston 12 2.20x
Greasley 11 46.06x
Lambeth 11 1.61x
Bathley 10 2222.22x
Claxby In Caistor 10 1149.43x
Great Grimsby 10 12.55x
Aldbrough In Skirlaugh 9 625.00x
Bethnal Green London 9 2.64x
Hugglescote 9 70.26x
Liverpool 9 1.59x
Nettleton 9 692.31x
Ordsall 9 111.11x
Reading St Giles 9 15.56x
Tottenham 9 7.20x
Kings Norton 8 8.70x
Tattershall Thorpe 8 963.86x
Wakefield 8 13.39x
Alfreton 7 18.74x
Ashton Under Lyne 7 3.44x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 7 9.66x
Candlesby 7 1060.61x
Clee With Weelsby 7 25.46x
Codnor Park 7 243.06x
Great Driffield 7 43.83x
Leeds 7 1.59x
Margate St John Baptist 7 14.27x
Sausthorpe 7 1842.11x
Carlton In Lindrick 6 213.52x
Clase 6 11.80x
Fulletby 6 869.57x
Hampstead London 6 4.91x
Islington London 6 0.79x
Newark Upon Trent 6 15.77x
Openshaw 6 13.75x
Sculcoates 6 4.86x
Southcoates 6 13.89x
St George Hanover 6 5.85x
West Ham 6 1.75x
Beverley St Mary 5 44.01x
Bradford 5 2.65x
Bramley In Rotherham 5 462.96x
Broadwater 5 16.46x
Louth 5 17.37x
Nottingham St Mary 5 1.83x
Rugby 5 18.66x
Whiston 5 133.69x
York All Sts North 5 129.87x
Anwick 4 425.53x
Chelsea London 4 1.69x
Ewerby 4 330.58x
Headingley Cum Burley 4 7.99x
Holy Trinity St Mary 4 33.76x
Litherland 4 20.53x
Monks Coppenhall 4 6.12x
Norton 4 39.49x
Salford 4 1.46x
Scunthorpe 4 70.80x
Surfleet 4 153.26x
Sutton On Trent 4 153.85x
Balby Cum Hexthorpe 3 32.29x
Blackwell 3 49.67x
East Retford 3 32.68x
Fakenham Magna 3 588.24x
Morton In Gainsborough 3 121.46x
North Kelsey 3 132.16x
Ranskill 3 297.03x
York St Cuthbert 3 42.13x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 53
Elizabeth 28
Sarah 27
Ann 19
Eliza 16
Ellen 15
Jane 15
Hannah 12
Emma 11
Annie 10
Charlotte 9
Emily 9
Harriet 9
Ada 7
Fanny 7
Martha 7
Alice 6
Margaret 6
Maria 6
Susan 6
Betsy 5
Kate 5
Agnes 4
Edith 4
Lizzie 4
Louisa 4
Lucy 4
Catherine 3
Rebecca 3
Susannah 3
Anne 2
Bertha 2
Caroline 2
Elizebeth 2
Francis 2
Jessie 2
Julia 2
Laura 2
Lilian 2
Lillian 2
Olive 2
Rose 2
Ruth 2
Bekey 1
Eunice 1
Florence 1
Flossy 1
June 1
Keziah 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 52
William 51
George 36
Henry 27
James 23
Joseph 23
Thomas 23
Robert 17
Charles 16
Alfred 8
Samuel 8
Arthur 7
Harry 7
Richard 6
Tom 6
Frank 5
Frederick 5
Walter 5
Albert 4
Edwin 4
David 3
Eli 3
Fred 3
Fredrick 3
Wm. 3
Alexander 2
Horace 2
Isaac 2
Josiah 2
Willey 2
Benjamin 1
Chapman 1
Christopher 1
Daniel 1
Eliza 1
Ernest 1
Ezra 1
Francis 1
Geo. 1
Gillis 1
H. 1
Jas. 1
Jesse 1
Joe 1
Jonas 1
Jonathan 1
Joshua 1
Louis 1
Luis 1
Mathew 1

FAQ

Padley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Padley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 804 people were recorded with the Padley surname. That placed it at #4,636 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Padley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,140 in 2016. That gives Padley a modern rank of #5,172.

What does the Padley surname mean?

An English habitational surname referring to someone from Padley, Derbyshire.

What does the Padley map show?

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