NameCensus.

UK surname

Polley

Derived from the Middle English word "poll," referring to someone with a distinctive or unusually large head.

In the 1881 census there were 789 people recorded with the Polley surname, ranking it #4,713 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,158, ranked #5,099, down from #4,713 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Barking and Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rother, Ipswich and Colchester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Polley is 1,282 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 46.8%.

1881 census count

789

Ranked #4,713

Modern count

1,158

2016, ranked #5,099

Peak year

1911

1,282 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Polley had 789 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,713 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,158 in 2016, ranked #5,099.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,282 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Polley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Polley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Polley 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 685 #3,796
1861 historical 526 #4,984
1881 historical 789 #4,713
1891 historical 884 #4,658
1901 historical 1,153 #4,227
1911 historical 1,282 #3,712
1997 modern 1,226 #4,631
1998 modern 1,271 #4,663
1999 modern 1,275 #4,682
2000 modern 1,266 #4,691
2001 modern 1,241 #4,666
2002 modern 1,252 #4,729
2003 modern 1,185 #4,862
2004 modern 1,195 #4,822
2005 modern 1,158 #4,914
2006 modern 1,145 #4,950
2007 modern 1,149 #4,989
2008 modern 1,178 #4,912
2009 modern 1,182 #4,999
2010 modern 1,203 #5,033
2011 modern 1,201 #4,972
2012 modern 1,175 #4,992
2013 modern 1,196 #4,994
2014 modern 1,195 #5,039
2015 modern 1,177 #5,059
2016 modern 1,158 #5,099

Geography

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Where Polleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Barking, Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a and Birch, Easthorpe, Copford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rother, Ipswich, Colchester and Weymouth and Portland. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Barking Essex
3 London parishes London 3
4 Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a Essex
5 Birch, Easthorpe, Copford Essex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rother 004 Rother
2 Ipswich 013 Ipswich
3 Colchester 022 Colchester
4 Weymouth and Portland 002 Weymouth and Portland
5 Colchester 016 Colchester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Polley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Polley

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Polley is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Polley is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Polley

The surname Polley is of English origin, and it is believed to have emerged in the early 13th century. The name is derived from the Old English words "pol" and "leah," which together mean "a clearing in a marshy area." This suggests that the name may have been initially used to describe someone who lived near or owned land in such a location.

The earliest known recording of the surname Polley can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire, England, from the year 1275. This record mentions a certain Robert de Polleye, indicating that the name had already been established by that time.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, including Polly, Pollie, and Pooley, reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation that were common during that era. One notable bearer of the name was John Polley, who was mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1279.

As the surname spread across England, it also became associated with certain place names. For instance, the village of Polley in Wiltshire may have derived its name from the surname, or vice versa. Similarly, the hamlet of Pooley in Cumbria is believed to have a connection to the name's origins.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Polley. One such person was William Polley (c. 1500 - 1570), an English merchant and Member of Parliament for the borough of Lyme Regis during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another prominent figure was John Polley (1630 - 1701), a Puritan minister and author who served as the pastor of the Church of Christ in Tiverton, Devon, for over 40 years. His published works include "A Treatise on the Decrees of God" and "A Discourse on the Covenant of Grace."

In the 18th century, James Polley (1732 - 1815) was a British naval officer who served with distinction during the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars. He rose to the rank of Vice Admiral and was knighted for his service.

Moving into the 19th century, Edward Polley (1810 - 1876) was an English architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Garrick Theatre and the Church of St. Mary Magdalene.

Finally, John Polley (1877 - 1957) was a Canadian lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for the constituency of Portage la Prairie in Manitoba from 1925 to 1935.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Polley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Polley 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. Essex leads with 322 Polleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.22x.

County Total Index
Essex 322 21.22x
Middlesex 139 1.81x
Surrey 91 2.43x
Oxfordshire 61 12.85x
Kent 44 1.68x
Suffolk 21 2.24x
Glamorgan 16 1.20x
Durham 14 0.61x
Sussex 13 1.00x
Lancashire 10 0.11x
Staffordshire 9 0.35x
Hampshire 8 0.51x
Herefordshire 8 2.54x
Lanarkshire 6 0.24x
Norfolk 5 0.42x
Berkshire 3 0.52x
Carmarthenshire 3 0.93x
Gloucestershire 3 0.20x
Hertfordshire 3 0.57x
Warwickshire 2 0.10x
Yorkshire 2 0.03x
Cornwall 1 0.11x
Flintshire 1 0.48x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.41x
Royal Navy 1 1.09x
Worcestershire 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. West Ham in Essex leads with 27 Polleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.06x.

Place Total Index
West Ham 27 8.06x
Cowley 20 134.95x
Bradfield 18 837.21x
Layer De La Hay 18 994.48x
Great Braxted 17 1734.69x
Newington 16 5.63x
Lambeth 15 2.24x
St George Hanover 15 14.95x
St Pancras London 15 2.42x
Birch 14 562.25x
Chelmsford 14 53.78x
Bensington 12 396.04x
Paddington London 12 4.25x
Lewisham 11 7.87x
Marsh Baldon 11 1341.46x
Mile End Old Town 11 9.07x
Bishopwearmouth 10 5.09x
Boxted 10 460.83x
Byfleet 10 300.30x
Colchester St Giles 10 66.71x
Croydon 10 4.81x
Drayton 10 840.34x
Chelsea London 9 3.89x
Latchingdon Snoreham 9 625.00x
St Marylebone London 9 2.19x
Brighton 8 3.06x
Great Coggeshall 8 101.39x
Hereford St Martin 8 209.42x
Lee 8 21.01x
Sedgley 8 8.30x
Stoke Newington London 8 13.36x
Wickham Bishops 8 567.38x
Camberwell 7 1.43x
Clase 7 14.06x
Copford 7 402.30x
Edmonton 7 11.30x
Portsea 7 2.27x
St Clement Danes 7 56.27x
St George In East 7 13.39x
Barony 6 0.95x
Brightlingsea 6 69.20x
Buttsbury 6 504.20x
Elmstead 6 245.90x
Kelvedon 6 148.51x
Martlesham 6 458.02x
South Weald 6 46.15x
Strood 6 40.11x
Colchester St Mary At 5 92.94x
Ealing 5 7.28x
East Ham 5 17.76x
Gelligaer 5 16.36x
Great Wakering 5 147.49x
Greenwich 5 4.09x
Hammersmith London 5 2.64x
North Ockendon 5 568.18x
Norwich St Paul 5 70.62x
Stanway 5 187.27x
Wandsworth 5 6.76x
West Bergholt 5 176.68x
Withington 5 17.02x
Ardleigh 4 95.01x
Bermondsey 4 1.75x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 4 22.77x
Chadwell St Mary 4 258.06x
Cranham 4 366.97x
Deptford St Paul 4 1.98x
Hackney London 4 0.93x
Hove 4 7.03x
Milton In Gravesend 4 10.17x
Old Newton 4 222.22x
Poplar London 4 2.76x
Sunderland 4 9.90x
Vange 4 952.38x
Witham 4 51.22x
Woodmansterne 4 493.83x
Battersea 3 1.06x
Colchester St Runwald 3 370.37x
Great Burstead 3 54.35x
Ipswich St Margaret 3 9.44x
Saffron Walden 3 18.71x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 51
James 30
Charles 29
George 28
John 27
Henry 17
Arthur 16
Alfred 14
David 14
Frederick 12
Robert 12
Edward 11
Joseph 11
Thomas 11
Walter 9
Samuel 8
Albert 6
Herbert 6
Richard 5
Francis 4
Geo. 4
Ernest 3
Frank 3
Fredrick 3
Harry 3
Abel 2
Abram 2
Edwd. 2
Fredk. 2
Hazell 2
Isaac 2
Jacob 2
Jas. 2
Sydney 2
Theophilus 2
W.H. 2
Wm. 2
Allen 1
Amos 1
Earnest 1
Edmund 1
Francewar 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Horace 1
Howard 1
Infant 1
Isac 1
Jabez 1
Wm.Jas. 1

FAQ

Polley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Polley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 789 people were recorded with the Polley surname. That placed it at #4,713 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Polley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,158 in 2016. That gives Polley a modern rank of #5,099.

What does the Polley surname mean?

Derived from the Middle English word "poll," referring to someone with a distinctive or unusually large head.

What does the Polley map show?

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