NameCensus.

UK surname

Presley

From an English place name meaning "priest's meadow," or from a topographic name meaning "prest clearing."

In the 1881 census there were 221 people recorded with the Presley surname, ranking it #12,049 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 673, ranked #7,962, up from #12,049 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Whitwell, Radstock and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Herefordshire, Bath and North East Somerset and Wiltshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Presley is 676 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 204.5%.

1881 census count

221

Ranked #12,049

Modern count

673

2016, ranked #7,962

Peak year

2014

676 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Presley had 221 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,049 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 673 in 2016, ranked #7,962.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 343 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Presley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Presley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Presley 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 224 #9,534
1861 historical 195 #12,263
1881 historical 221 #12,049
1891 historical 255 #12,552
1901 historical 238 #13,528
1911 historical 343 #10,416
1997 modern 553 #8,617
1998 modern 559 #8,808
1999 modern 589 #8,548
2000 modern 586 #8,542
2001 modern 582 #8,461
2002 modern 587 #8,571
2003 modern 580 #8,520
2004 modern 580 #8,543
2005 modern 556 #8,720
2006 modern 573 #8,575
2007 modern 590 #8,464
2008 modern 605 #8,360
2009 modern 624 #8,338
2010 modern 637 #8,371
2011 modern 625 #8,412
2012 modern 634 #8,229
2013 modern 673 #7,985
2014 modern 676 #8,000
2015 modern 666 #8,037
2016 modern 673 #7,962

Geography

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Where Presleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Whitwell, Radstock, London parishes, Midsomer Norton, Paulton, Chilcompton and Bolsover. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Herefordshire, Bath and North East Somerset, Wiltshire and Gloucester. 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 Whitwell Nottinghamshire
2 Radstock Somerset
3 London parishes London 3
4 Midsomer Norton, Paulton, Chilcompton Somerset
5 Bolsover Derbyshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Herefordshire 019 Herefordshire, County of
2 Bath and North East Somerset 025 Bath and North East Somerset
3 Wiltshire 019 Wiltshire
4 Gloucester 009 Gloucester
5 Gloucester 007 Gloucester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Presley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Presley

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Presley is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Presley is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Presley falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Presley

The surname Presley is of English origin and can be traced back to the 12th century. It is believed to have originated from the Old English word "preost", meaning "priest", and the suffix "-leah", meaning "woodland clearing" or "meadow". This suggests that the name may have referred to a priest's residence or land associated with a priest.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Presley can be found in the Rotuli Hundredorum, a census-like record from the late 13th century, where it appears as "de Presteleye". This indicates that the name was likely derived from a place name, as was common during that time period.

In the 14th century, the surname Presley appeared in various forms, such as "Presleye", "Prestley", and "Prestleigh", reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation that were common before standardization.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname Presley became more widely distributed across England. Notable individuals bearing this name included William Presley (1598-1672), a Puritan minister who served as the rector of Upwell in Norfolk, and John Presley (1617-1679), a Member of Parliament for Pembrokeshire in Wales.

In the 18th century, the Presley family had established themselves in various parts of England, including Hertfordshire, Gloucestershire, and Staffordshire. One notable figure from this period was Samuel Presley (1733-1808), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War.

As the Presley family spread across England, some members migrated to other parts of the British Isles and eventually to the American colonies. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name in America was Richard Presley, who arrived in Virginia in the 1660s.

Other notable individuals with the surname Presley throughout history include:

1. Joseph Presley (1796-1865), an American farmer and the great-great-grandfather of Elvis Presley. 2. Abner Presley (1788-1854), an American farmer and the great-grandfather of Elvis Presley. 3. Jessie D. Presley (1896-1973), an American businessman and the father of Elvis Presley. 4. Vernon Presley (1916-1979), an American businessman and the father of Elvis Presley. 5. Elvis Presley (1935-1977), the legendary American singer and actor who popularized rock and roll music.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Presley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Presley 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 29 Presleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.36x.

County Total Index
Somerset 29 8.36x
Derbyshire 27 8.00x
Surrey 26 2.48x
Yorkshire 26 1.22x
Nottinghamshire 24 8.26x
Lancashire 14 0.55x
Wiltshire 14 7.34x
Gloucestershire 11 2.60x
Middlesex 9 0.42x
Staffordshire 7 0.96x
Hertfordshire 5 3.37x
Renfrewshire 5 2.99x
Lanarkshire 4 0.57x
Aberdeenshire 3 1.50x
Hampshire 3 0.68x
Kent 3 0.41x
Leicestershire 3 1.26x
Berkshire 2 1.24x
Herefordshire 2 2.26x
Glamorgan 1 0.27x
Lincolnshire 1 0.29x
Pembrokeshire 1 1.46x
Worcestershire 1 0.36x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Whitwell in Derbyshire leads with 17 Presleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1268.66x.

Place Total Index
Whitwell 17 1268.66x
Radstock 14 614.04x
Warminster 12 287.08x
Newington 11 13.81x
Bolsover 10 591.72x
Lambeth 8 4.26x
Worksop 8 92.81x
Blidworth 7 1842.11x
Cheltenham 7 21.46x
Ecclesall Bierlow 6 13.81x
Leeds 6 4.97x
Midsomer Norton 6 183.49x
Pilkington 6 61.73x
Wolverhampton 6 10.72x
Chilcompton 5 1041.67x
Goole 5 139.66x
Norton 5 2631.58x
Port Glasgow 5 61.88x
Aldenham 4 296.30x
Barony 4 2.27x
High Melton 4 3636.36x
Southwark St George Martyr 4 9.22x
Wotton Under Edge 4 160.64x
Barkby 3 652.17x
Bermondsey 3 4.67x
Southcoates 3 25.30x
Walcot 3 16.23x
Crayford 2 62.31x
East Woodhay 2 176.99x
Finchampstead 2 408.16x
Gorton 2 8.32x
Kingston Deverill 2 1000.00x
Much Marcle 2 312.50x
Nottingham St Mary 2 2.66x
Paddington London 2 2.52x
St Pancras London 2 1.15x
Woodhouse Hall 2 2000.00x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 1 2.68x
Bathwick 1 26.04x
Blackburn 1 1.47x
Bourtie 1 294.12x
Brightside Bierlow 1 2.39x
Broughton In Salford 1 4.28x
Cannock 1 7.87x
Elmley Castle 1 370.37x
Islington London 1 0.48x
Kirkdale 1 2.32x
Layton With Warbreck 1 10.65x
Liverpool 1 0.64x
New Sealford 1 140.85x
Penally 1 222.22x
Peterhead 1 9.47x
Rainhill 1 60.98x
Romsey Extra 1 38.02x
Shoreditch London 1 1.07x
Sprotborough 1 588.24x
St Marylebone London 1 0.87x
St Nicholas At Wade 1 232.56x
Stanstead Abbots 1 111.11x
Swansea St Thomas 1 26.53x
Westminster St James 1 4.51x
Westminster St John 1 3.81x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 12
Elizabeth 8
Jane 8
Clara 6
Sarah 6
Emily 4
Emma 4
Ann 3
Caroline 3
Hannah 3
Martha 3
Ada 2
Alice 2
Anne 2
Annie 2
Charlotte 2
Edith 2
Ellen 2
Florence 2
Maria 2
Agnes 1
Amy 1
Angeline 1
Anma 1
Anney 1
Beatrice 1
Eleanor 1
Eliza 1
Ethel 1
Fanny 1
George 1
Gertrude 1
Harriet 1
Isabela 1
Jemima 1
Kate 1
Lavinia 1
Mabel 1
Margaret 1
Rebecca 1
Rosa 1
Rose 1
Selina 1
Vertue 1
Winifred 1
Winnie 1
Zoe 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 13
John 12
Henry 10
Joseph 9
George 8
Thomas 8
Edward 4
James 4
Charles 3
Frank 3
Alfred 2
Harry 2
Jarvis 2
Ralph 2
Richard 2
Tom 2
Alfd. 1
Anthony 1
Arthur 1
Auther 1
Bertram 1
Clarence 1
Edgar 1
Felix 1
Francis 1
Fredrick 1
Henery 1
Herbert 1
Jacob 1
Jim 1
Lenton 1
Raymond 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Presley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Presley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 221 people were recorded with the Presley surname. That placed it at #12,049 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Presley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 673 in 2016. That gives Presley a modern rank of #7,962.

What does the Presley surname mean?

From an English place name meaning "priest's meadow," or from a topographic name meaning "prest clearing."

What does the Presley map show?

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