NameCensus.

UK surname

Poley

A habitational name from places in England named Poley or Polyey, referring to someone who lived there.

In the 1881 census there were 140 people recorded with the Poley surname, ranking it #16,151 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 79, ranked #33,100, down from #16,151 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Briton Ferry, Neath and Llangafelach. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Richmond upon Thames, Cornwall and Hammersmith and Fulham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Poley is 225 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 43.6%.

1881 census count

140

Ranked #16,151

Modern count

79

2016, ranked #33,100

Peak year

1891

225 bearers

Map years

7

1851 to 1998

Key insights

  • Poley had 140 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,151 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 79 in 2016, ranked #33,100.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 225 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Poley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Poley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Poley 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 153 #12,721
1861 historical 221 #11,031
1881 historical 140 #16,151
1891 historical 225 #13,714
1901 historical 162 #17,271
1911 historical 207 #14,635
1997 modern 136 #22,398
1998 modern 144 #22,221
1999 modern 137 #23,083
2000 modern 120 #24,950
2001 modern 107 #26,328
2002 modern 112 #26,165
2003 modern 95 #28,536
2004 modern 91 #29,345
2005 modern 90 #29,527
2006 modern 98 #28,621
2007 modern 89 #30,383
2008 modern 96 #29,654
2009 modern 92 #30,820
2010 modern 89 #31,745
2011 modern 88 #31,801
2012 modern 80 #32,877
2013 modern 82 #32,903
2014 modern 82 #32,992
2015 modern 80 #33,052
2016 modern 79 #33,100

Geography

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Where Poleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Briton Ferry, Neath, Llangafelach, Cardiff St John and St Mary and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Richmond upon Thames, Cornwall, Hammersmith and Fulham, Sefton and Swansea. 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 Briton Ferry Glamorganshire
2 Neath Glamorganshire
3 Llangafelach Glamorganshire
4 Cardiff St John and St Mary Glamorganshire
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Richmond upon Thames 015 Richmond upon Thames
2 Cornwall 008 Cornwall
3 Hammersmith and Fulham 006 Hammersmith and Fulham
4 Sefton 017 Sefton
5 Swansea 026 Swansea

Forenames

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First names often paired with Poley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Poley

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Poley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Poley household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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, Poley 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

Poley is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Poley falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Poley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Poley

The surname Poley has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from the village of Poley in Suffolk, which was first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Polei."

The name Poley is thought to have derived from the Old English words "pol" meaning "pool" or "marsh," and "ey" meaning "island." This suggests that the original bearer of the name may have lived on an island surrounded by marshy land or near a pool.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Poley can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Hampshire in 1195, where a William de Poley is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already well-established by the late 12th century.

In the 13th century, the name appears in various records, such as the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which lists a Robert de Poley in Suffolk. The Suffolk Feet of Fines from 1310 also mentions a John de Poley.

During the 16th century, the surname Poley was particularly prevalent in the county of Suffolk, where the village of Poley is located. Notable individuals from this period include John Poley (c.1515-1572), who served as a Member of Parliament for Thetford in 1555.

In the 17th century, the name appears in various parish records across England. For instance, the baptism of John Poley was recorded in Saffron Walden, Essex, in 1619.

Moving into the 18th century, we find references to individuals such as Thomas Poley (1699-1765), who was a clergyman and author from Boxted, Suffolk. Another notable figure was Arthur Poley (1706-1785), a prominent landowner and Member of Parliament for Ipswich from 1754 to 1780.

In the 19th century, the surname continued to be prevalent in Suffolk and other parts of England. One notable individual was Frederick John Poley (1830-1903), who was a successful businessman and philanthropist in London.

Throughout its history, the surname Poley has been associated with various occupations, including farmers, clergymen, landowners, and businessmen. While the name may have originated from a specific location in Suffolk, it has since spread across England and beyond, carried by individuals from various backgrounds and walks of life.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Poley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Poley 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. Glamorgan leads with 50 Poleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.30x.

County Total Index
Glamorgan 50 22.30x
Middlesex 46 3.57x
Suffolk 10 6.38x
Hampshire 9 3.41x
Devon 5 1.87x
Norfolk 3 1.52x
Gloucestershire 1 0.40x
Kent 1 0.23x
Lanarkshire 1 0.24x
Lancashire 1 0.07x
Leicestershire 1 0.70x
Midlothian 1 0.58x
Staffordshire 1 0.23x
Surrey 1 0.16x
Sussex 1 0.46x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 15 Poleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.02x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 15 12.02x
St Pancras London 14 13.51x
Neath 11 241.23x
Blaenhonddan 10 961.54x
Dyffryn Clydach 8 1481.48x
Eyke 7 4117.65x
St Andrew Holborn 7 160.55x
Briton Ferry 6 224.72x
Clase 5 59.95x
Exeter St David 4 174.67x
Penarth 4 182.65x
Portsea 4 7.73x
Whitechapel London 4 31.52x
Coedfrank 3 193.55x
Farlington 3 555.56x
Llansamlet Lower 3 147.78x
Edwardstone 2 1052.63x
Shoreditch London 2 3.58x
St Anne Soho London 2 27.21x
Bexley 1 25.77x
Bothwell 1 8.86x
Boxted 1 1250.00x
Bristol St Augustine 1 24.57x
Downham Market 1 73.53x
Eastbourne 1 10.01x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 1.44x
Fersfield 1 769.23x
Kensington London 1 1.40x
Lambeth 1 0.89x
Lidford 1 83.33x
Melton Mowbray 1 38.91x
Rowley Regis 1 8.26x
South Pickenham 1 1250.00x
Southwick 1 344.83x
St Marylebone London 1 1.45x
Wickham 1 204.08x
Withington 1 20.33x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 9
David 5
James 5
Thomas 5
George 4
William 4
Arthur 2
Robert 2
Walter 2
Alfred 1
Charles 1
Charlie 1
Edgar 1
Edward 1
Ellen 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Griffith 1
Henry 1
Isaac 1
Jerimiah 1
L...ry 1
Leyshon 1
Matthew 1
Percy 1
Pietrie 1
Samuel 1
Thimoth 1
Thos 1

FAQ

Poley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Poley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 140 people were recorded with the Poley surname. That placed it at #16,151 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Poley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 79 in 2016. That gives Poley a modern rank of #33,100.

What does the Poley surname mean?

A habitational name from places in England named Poley or Polyey, referring to someone who lived there.

What does the Poley map show?

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