UK surname
A surname derived from the French place name Palleau, referring to a person from that location.
In the 1881 census there were 23 people recorded with the Palley surname, ranking it #30,339 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 17, ranked #36,904, down from #30,339 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Devonport Stonehouse, East, Paddington and Walton-le-Soken. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Palley is 139 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 26.1%.
1881 census count
23
Ranked #30,339
Modern count
17
2016, ranked #36,904
Peak year
1861
139 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Palley surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Palley surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 44 | #25,328 |
| 1861 | historical | 139 | #16,263 |
| 1881 | historical | 23 | #30,339 |
| 1891 | historical | 55 | #29,744 |
| 1901 | historical | 33 | #30,384 |
| 1911 | historical | 31 | #29,952 |
| 1997 | modern | 14 | #36,528 |
| 1998 | modern | 15 | #36,457 |
| 1999 | modern | 20 | #35,923 |
| 2000 | modern | 17 | #36,207 |
| 2001 | modern | 17 | #36,053 |
| 2002 | modern | 11 | #36,780 |
| 2003 | modern | 8 | #37,248 |
| 2004 | modern | 8 | #37,346 |
| 2005 | modern | 15 | #36,621 |
| 2006 | modern | 17 | #36,517 |
| 2007 | modern | 18 | #36,537 |
| 2008 | modern | 19 | #36,534 |
| 2009 | modern | 20 | #36,534 |
| 2010 | modern | 19 | #36,687 |
| 2011 | modern | 17 | #36,839 |
| 2012 | modern | 17 | #36,811 |
| 2013 | modern | 18 | #36,787 |
| 2014 | modern | 17 | #36,888 |
| 2015 | modern | 17 | #36,887 |
| 2016 | modern | 17 | #36,904 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Devonport Stonehouse, East, Paddington, Walton-le-Soken, St Pancras and Braxted, Great. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Devonport Stonehouse, East | Devon |
| 2 | Paddington | London (West Districts) |
| 3 | Walton-le-Soken | Essex |
| 4 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | Braxted, Great | Essex |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Palley surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Palley, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Palley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Palley household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Palley is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Palley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Palley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Palley is of English origin, deriving from the Old English word "pæll," which means "a cloak" or "a mantle." This name likely emerged as an occupational surname, referring to someone who made or sold cloaks or mantles.
The earliest recorded instance of the name Palley dates back to the 13th century in the county of Wiltshire, England. In the Subsidy Rolls of 1327, there is a reference to a "William Pally" residing in the village of Bradford-on-Avon.
During the medieval period, the name appeared in various spellings, including Pally, Pallie, and Paley, reflecting the inconsistencies in spelling and record-keeping at the time. Some of these variations may have been influenced by local dialects or scribal errors.
One notable historical figure bearing the surname Palley was Sir John Palley (c. 1510-1578), a prominent English merchant and politician who served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1573. He played a significant role in the commercial and civic affairs of the city during the Elizabethan era.
Another individual of note was Robert Palley (1608-1679), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Bishopstone in Wiltshire. He published several religious works, including "A Discourse on the Nativity of our Blessed Saviour" (1665).
In the 18th century, the name Palley appeared in various parish records across counties like Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, and Somerset. For instance, the baptismal records of St. Mary's Church in Taunton, Somerset, mention a "William Palley" in 1712.
Moving to the 19th century, one notable figure was Edward Palley (1834-1903), a British painter and illustrator known for his landscapes and genre scenes. He exhibited his works at the Royal Academy and other prestigious galleries in London.
Another individual of note was Sir Francis Palley (1857-1932), a British lawyer and judge who served as the Chief Justice of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) from 1924 to 1928. He made significant contributions to the legal system and judiciary of the British colony.
While the surname Palley is not among the most common in England, it has a rich historical legacy spanning several centuries, with individuals from various walks of life leaving their mark in fields such as commerce, religion, art, and law.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Palley surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 15 Palleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.00x.
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Paddington London in Middlesex leads with 7 Palleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 88.83x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Paddington London | 7 | 88.83x |
| St Pancras London | 7 | 40.56x |
| Frindsbury | 2 | 714.29x |
| Winkfield | 2 | 740.74x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 8.39x |
| Nayland | 1 | 1428.57x |
| Richmond | 1 | 68.49x |
| South Weald | 1 | 277.78x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Palley surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Palley surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Palley households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 5 |
| (DS) | 1 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Coachman (Domestic) | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| F Polisher | 1 |
| Formerly Dressmaker | 1 |
| Furrier | 1 |
| General Serv | 1 |
| Harness Maker | 1 |
| Pforte Finisher | 1 |
| Pforte Hammer Coverer | 1 |
| Stock Brokers Clerk | 1 |
| Wood Sawyer | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 23 people were recorded with the Palley surname. That placed it at #30,339 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 17 in 2016. That gives Palley a modern rank of #36,904.
A surname derived from the French place name Palleau, referring to a person from that location.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Palley bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.