NameCensus.

UK surname

Plumley

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "plum meadow" or "plum clearing" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 428 people recorded with the Plumley surname, ranking it #7,587 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 724, ranked #7,505, up from #7,587 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ringwood, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Blaenau Gwent, North Somerset and Wealden.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Plumley is 755 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 69.2%.

1881 census count

428

Ranked #7,587

Modern count

724

2016, ranked #7,505

Peak year

2011

755 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Plumley had 428 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,587 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 724 in 2016, ranked #7,505.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 707 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Plumley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Plumley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Plumley 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 279 #8,067
1861 historical 286 #8,793
1881 historical 428 #7,587
1891 historical 526 #7,125
1901 historical 618 #6,904
1911 historical 707 #6,025
1997 modern 733 #6,988
1998 modern 742 #7,161
1999 modern 738 #7,239
2000 modern 745 #7,140
2001 modern 725 #7,162
2002 modern 725 #7,308
2003 modern 720 #7,221
2004 modern 705 #7,350
2005 modern 732 #7,087
2006 modern 732 #7,121
2007 modern 726 #7,244
2008 modern 728 #7,264
2009 modern 744 #7,297
2010 modern 754 #7,352
2011 modern 755 #7,266
2012 modern 696 #7,638
2013 modern 722 #7,554
2014 modern 726 #7,563
2015 modern 727 #7,510
2016 modern 724 #7,505

Geography

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Where Plumleys are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Blaenau Gwent, North Somerset, Wealden, East Dorset and Bristol. 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 Ringwood Hampshire
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 London parishes London 1
4 Newchurch Hampshire
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Blaenau Gwent 001 Blaenau Gwent
2 North Somerset 007 North Somerset
3 Wealden 020 Wealden
4 East Dorset 001 East Dorset
5 Bristol 044 Bristol, City of

Forenames

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First names often paired with Plumley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Plumley

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Plumley 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

Plumley is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Plumley falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Plumley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Plumley

The surname Plumley originated in the county of Cheshire, England, during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old English words "plum" and "leah," meaning a plum tree or grove, suggesting the name's bearers likely lived near such a location.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Plumelegh." This manuscript, commissioned by William the Conqueror, was a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England.

During the 13th century, the name was also recorded as "Plumley" and "Plumlegh" in various historical documents from Cheshire. These variations reflect the dialect and spelling conventions of the time.

Among the notable individuals with the surname Plumley is Sir Robert Plumley (c. 1470-1546), a prominent landowner and statesman who served as High Sheriff of Cheshire in 1509. His family's ancestral seat was at Plumley, a village that likely took its name from the surname.

Another noteworthy figure is Captain Thomas Plumley (1617-1679), an English naval officer who served in the Anglo-Dutch Wars and the Jamaican Expedition of 1655. He played a significant role in the capture of Spanish territories in the Caribbean.

In the literary world, Robert Plumley (1772-1846) was an English poet and writer who published several works, including "The Poetical Works of Robert Plumley" in 1830.

The surname Plumley also has a connection to the American colonies. John Plumley (1636-1709) was an early settler in Woodbridge, New Jersey, arriving from England in the late 17th century.

Lastly, Sir Henry Plumley (1827-1909) was a British businessman and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1885 and was knighted for his contributions to the city.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Plumley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Plumley 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. Somerset leads with 105 Plumleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.59x.

County Total Index
Somerset 105 15.59x
Hampshire 78 9.09x
Middlesex 53 1.27x
Gloucestershire 44 5.36x
Dorset 24 8.74x
Durham 23 1.85x
Surrey 23 1.13x
Warwickshire 14 1.33x
Shropshire 12 3.32x
Lancashire 11 0.22x
Sussex 10 1.42x
Essex 5 0.61x
Glamorgan 5 0.69x
Kent 5 0.35x
Monmouthshire 5 1.65x
Wiltshire 5 1.35x
Denbighshire 4 2.53x
Leicestershire 2 0.43x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Clevedon in Somerset leads with 36 Plumleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 514.29x.

Place Total Index
Clevedon 36 514.29x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 23 29.77x
Burrington 21 3230.77x
Bristol St George 15 39.52x
Ringwood 15 273.22x
Newport 12 258.06x
Stockton On Tees 12 20.00x
St Marylebone London 11 4.92x
Bedminster 10 15.80x
Westoe 10 14.17x
Birmingham 9 2.56x
Clerkenwell London 9 9.11x
Islington London 9 2.22x
Oswestry Town 9 77.72x
Pilton 9 559.01x
Poole St James 8 77.52x
Walton In Gordano 8 1111.11x
Camberwell 7 2.62x
Ellingham 7 1707.32x
Tottington Lower End 7 29.66x
Bow London 6 11.26x
Canford Magna 6 377.36x
Romsey Extra 6 117.65x
Andover 5 61.73x
Aston 5 1.72x
Chelsea London 5 3.97x
Freshwater 5 127.55x
North Wootton 5 1250.00x
Southwark St John 5 39.06x
St John Winchester 5 277.78x
Trevethin 5 17.50x
Westminster St John 5 9.81x
Bermondsey 4 3.21x
Chirk 4 128.62x
Congresbury 4 233.92x
Downton 4 82.64x
Llandaff 4 16.50x
Mile End Old Town 4 6.06x
Pevensey 4 769.23x
Rockbourne 4 615.38x
Winterborne Kingston 4 540.54x
Winterborne Zelstone 4 1904.76x
Brighton 3 2.11x
Chertsey 3 22.76x
Lewisham 3 3.94x
Low Leyton 3 405.41x
Bethnal Green London 2 1.10x
Blagdon 2 140.85x
Bristol St Paul In 2 9.15x
Christchurch 2 10.75x
Dibden 2 277.78x
Eccleston In Prescot 2 8.02x
Fordingbridge 2 42.92x
Hale 2 952.38x
Leicester St Mary 2 5.34x
Leyton Low 2 11.91x
Newington 2 1.29x
Rogate 2 141.84x
Ryde 2 10.86x
Stapleton 2 12.85x
Titchfield 2 30.96x
Ventnor 2 24.51x
West Lydford 2 526.32x
Bexley 1 7.92x
Cheddar 1 29.50x
Chew Magna 1 42.37x
Clifton 1 2.41x
Devizes St James 1 20.33x
Gillingham 1 3.40x
Long Ashton 1 29.94x
Nottingham St Mary 1 0.69x
Oldham 1 0.62x
Portsea 1 0.59x
South Shields 1 9.02x
South Stoneham 1 5.37x
Southwick 1 26.81x
St Bartholomew Less 1 46.51x
Stoke 1 10.40x
West Pennard 1 92.59x
Ystradyfodwg 1 1.56x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 27
Elizabeth 15
Sarah 14
Ann 12
Emily 10
Ellen 9
Emma 9
Annie 8
Jane 8
Fanny 7
Charlotte 6
Louisa 5
Agnes 4
Edith 4
Ada 3
Alice 3
Hannah 3
Lucy 3
Maria 3
Caroline 2
Eliza 2
Evelyn 2
Frances 2
Isabella 2
Julia 2
Laura 2
Martha 2
Matilda 2
Rose 2
Virtue 2
Amy 1
Beatrice 1
Betsey 1
Bridget 1
Clara 1
Elizebth. 1
Elizth. 1
Ethel 1
Eva 1
Florence 1
Georgina 1
Hilen 1
Isabell 1
Jennette 1
Kate 1
L. 1
Leah 1
Lilley 1
Lilly 1
Lizzie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 28
George 25
James 18
Charles 15
Henry 14
John 13
Thomas 10
Edward 8
Albert 5
Alfred 5
Frank 5
Walter 5
Arthur 4
Edwin 4
Frederick 4
Joseph 4
Ernest 3
Herbert 3
Richard 3
Robert 3
Samuel 3
Thos. 3
Aurther 2
Harry 2
Stephen 2
Artur 1
C. 1
Cuthbert 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Geo. 1
Isaac 1
Jeremiah 1
Josiah 1
Lewis 1
Oliver 1
Peter 1
Saml. 1
Seatus 1
Sidney 1
Theodore 1
Tom 1
Uriah 1
Wilfred 1
Willie 1
Willm. 1
Willm.T. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Plumley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Plumley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 428 people were recorded with the Plumley surname. That placed it at #7,587 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Plumley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 724 in 2016. That gives Plumley a modern rank of #7,505.

What does the Plumley surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "plum meadow" or "plum clearing" in Old English.

What does the Plumley map show?

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