NameCensus.

UK surname

Parsley

A surname derived from the herb, likely referring to a gardener, greengrocer, or spice merchant.

In the 1881 census there were 403 people recorded with the Parsley surname, ranking it #7,933 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 812, ranked #6,823, up from #7,933 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, East Hertfordshire and Windsor and Maidenhead.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Parsley is 859 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 101.5%.

1881 census count

403

Ranked #7,933

Modern count

812

2016, ranked #6,823

Peak year

1998

859 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Parsley had 403 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,933 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 812 in 2016, ranked #6,823.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 687 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Parsley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Parsley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Parsley 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 328 #7,098
1861 historical 321 #7,938
1881 historical 403 #7,933
1891 historical 477 #7,705
1901 historical 594 #7,127
1911 historical 687 #6,173
1997 modern 810 #6,472
1998 modern 859 #6,390
1999 modern 857 #6,442
2000 modern 828 #6,591
2001 modern 814 #6,556
2002 modern 828 #6,593
2003 modern 816 #6,548
2004 modern 807 #6,626
2005 modern 801 #6,611
2006 modern 800 #6,629
2007 modern 809 #6,622
2008 modern 808 #6,693
2009 modern 833 #6,667
2010 modern 847 #6,713
2011 modern 852 #6,602
2012 modern 841 #6,580
2013 modern 849 #6,643
2014 modern 840 #6,722
2015 modern 825 #6,756
2016 modern 812 #6,823

Geography

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Where Parsleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton and Weathersfield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham, East Hertfordshire, Windsor and Maidenhead and North Devon. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton Devon
4 London parishes London 3
5 Weathersfield Essex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 059 County Durham
2 East Hertfordshire 015 East Hertfordshire
3 County Durham 040 County Durham
4 Windsor and Maidenhead 018 Windsor and Maidenhead
5 North Devon 008 North Devon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Parsley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Parsley

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

Parsley 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

Parsley falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Parsley

The surname Parsley is of English origin, deriving from the Old English word "persill," which referred to the herb parsley. It likely originated as a descriptive name for someone who grew or traded in parsley, or perhaps lived near an area where parsley was cultivated.

Records show the name appearing as early as the 13th century in various parts of England, with early spellings including Perselee, Parselye, and Perseley. One of the earliest known bearers was Robert Parselye, mentioned in tax records from Yorkshire in 1297.

In the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire from 1273, there is a reference to a Hugo Persely, indicating the name's presence in that region during the medieval period. The Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1296 also list a William Parsely.

The surname Parsley can be found in several early manuscripts and records, including the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as a place name in Wiltshire. This suggests the name may have derived from a particular location associated with parsley cultivation.

Notable historical figures bearing the Parsley surname include Sir John Parsley (1545-1617), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire. Another notable bearer was Robert Parsley (1612-1679), an English clergyman and author of several religious works.

In the 18th century, William Parsley (1742-1827) was a prominent English architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Church of St. Anne and St. Agnes in Gresham Street.

During the Victorian era, Charles Parsley (1848-1918) was a British artist known for his landscapes and rural scenes, while John Parsley (1870-1952) was a noted English cricketer who played for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club.

Throughout history, the Parsley surname has been present in various regions of England, particularly in areas where parsley cultivation or trade was prominent, such as Yorkshire, Bedfordshire, and Sussex.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Parsley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Parsley 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. Middlesex leads with 92 Parsleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.38x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 92 2.38x
Essex 51 6.69x
Somerset 47 7.56x
Surrey 30 1.59x
Devon 26 3.23x
Norfolk 26 4.38x
Hertfordshire 23 8.64x
Gloucestershire 16 2.11x
Oxfordshire 13 5.45x
Suffolk 12 2.55x
Westmorland 12 14.13x
Glamorgan 7 1.04x
Cambridgeshire 6 2.45x
Cumberland 6 1.80x
Lancashire 5 0.11x
Pembrokeshire 3 2.44x
Bedfordshire 2 1.00x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.86x
Dorset 2 0.79x
Durham 2 0.17x
Kent 2 0.15x
Worcestershire 2 0.40x
Yorkshire 2 0.05x
Berkshire 1 0.34x
Derbyshire 1 0.17x
Lanarkshire 1 0.08x
Monmouthshire 1 0.36x
Sussex 1 0.15x
Wigtownshire 1 1.95x
Wiltshire 1 0.29x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wethersfield in Essex leads with 22 Parsleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1145.83x.

Place Total Index
Wethersfield 22 1145.83x
Barnstaple 18 142.63x
Bethnal Green London 18 10.73x
Wrington 17 813.40x
Camberwell 14 5.67x
Kidlington 11 594.59x
Catton 10 1010.10x
Ware 10 131.06x
Appleby St Michael 9 471.20x
Saffron Walden 9 111.66x
St Marylebone London 9 4.36x
Bristol St Michael 8 123.08x
Halstead 8 89.89x
Islington London 8 2.14x
South Mimms 8 150.94x
Southwark St George Martyr 8 10.29x
Paddington London 7 4.93x
Poplar London 7 9.60x
Wrentham 7 534.35x
Hammersmith London 6 6.31x
Kenn 6 1578.95x
Kensington London 6 2.79x
St Andrewthe Less 6 21.47x
Swansea Lower 6 174.93x
Arlecdon 5 56.56x
Bedminster 5 8.56x
Blofield 5 331.13x
Edgware 5 462.96x
Great Yarmouth 5 10.16x
Sible Hedingham 5 196.08x
Wigginton 5 531.91x
Almondsbury 4 138.41x
Chigwell 4 55.56x
Clevedon 4 61.82x
Dodbrooke 4 250.00x
Lambeth 4 1.19x
Northchurch 4 140.85x
Tottenham 4 6.50x
Worle 4 312.50x
Backwell 3 234.38x
Bath St Michael 3 95.54x
Braintree 3 43.80x
Llanstadwell 3 74.81x
Tring 3 42.19x
Westminster St John 3 6.38x
Yatton 3 123.97x
Acton 2 8.83x
Barton Upon Irwell 2 5.80x
Bladon 2 246.91x
Bristol St Paul In 2 9.91x
Chelsea London 2 1.72x
Cratfield 2 303.03x
Crosby Garrett 2 666.67x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 2 4.02x
Heigham 2 6.27x
Hornsey 2 4.09x
Kidderminster Borough 2 6.78x
Kimmeridge 2 869.57x
Kingston Seymour 2 512.82x
Liverpool 2 0.72x
Luton 2 5.78x
Malborough 2 62.50x
Streatham 2 6.98x
Wandsworth 2 5.38x
Ashford 1 32.79x
Bierton With Broughton 1 93.46x
Chilton Foliat 1 135.14x
Darenth 1 49.26x
Devonport 1 10.82x
Inch 1 20.00x
Kirkandrews Upon Eden 1 526.32x
Littleham 1 17.01x
Maidstone 1 2.55x
Marske In Guisbrough 1 14.71x
Metfield 1 129.87x
Monken Hadley 1 64.94x
Redisham 1 416.67x
Rodbourne Cheney 1 37.88x
St George Hanover 1 1.98x
Worth 1 21.14x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 26
Elizabeth 13
Sarah 13
Harriet 12
Ann 10
Jane 10
Alice 6
Fanny 6
Annie 5
Eliza 5
Ellen 5
Susan 5
Amelia 4
Emma 4
Martha 4
Caroline 3
Charlotte 3
Hannah 3
Louisa 3
Lucy 3
Margaret 3
Rosa 3
Ada 2
Anne 2
Beatrice 2
Elizth. 2
Esther 2
Matilda 2
Rose 2
Bertha 1
Bessie 1
Betsy 1
Catherine 1
Emely 1
Emily 1
Ethel 1
Eva 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Lettia 1
Lilly 1
Lydia 1
Mabel 1
Margaet 1
Maria 1
Marther 1
Maryann 1
Thirza 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 28
William 18
Charles 16
James 15
George 13
Thomas 11
Henry 9
Alfred 8
Frederick 8
Joseph 8
Edward 6
Samuel 6
Wm. 5
Robert 4
Adolphus 3
Albert 3
Daniel 3
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Richard 2
Robt. 2
Walter 2
Alexander 1
Archibald 1
Chas. 1
Cornelius 1
David 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Ferderick 1
Henrey 1
Hugh 1
Hy 1
Louis 1
Luke 1
Mark 1
Matthew 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Saml. 1
Sydney 1
Wiliam 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Parsley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Parsley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 403 people were recorded with the Parsley surname. That placed it at #7,933 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Parsley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 812 in 2016. That gives Parsley a modern rank of #6,823.

What does the Parsley surname mean?

A surname derived from the herb, likely referring to a gardener, greengrocer, or spice merchant.

What does the Parsley map show?

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