NameCensus.

UK surname

Priestley

An occupational surname derived from the trade of a priest or clergyman.

In the 1881 census there were 5,074 people recorded with the Priestley surname, ranking it #878 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 6,259, ranked #1,078, down from #878 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bradford and Halifax. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bradford and Calderdale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Priestley is 7,228 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 23.4%.

1881 census count

5,074

Ranked #878

Modern count

6,259

2016, ranked #1,078

Peak year

1911

7,228 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Priestley had 5,074 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #878 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 6,259 in 2016, ranked #1,078.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 7,228 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Priestley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Priestley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Priestley 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 2,978 #972
1861 historical 2,867 #1,014
1881 historical 5,074 #878
1891 historical 5,358 #874
1901 historical 6,371 #871
1911 historical 7,228 #720
1997 modern 6,457 #1,006
1998 modern 6,642 #1,019
1999 modern 6,671 #1,028
2000 modern 6,695 #1,012
2001 modern 6,552 #1,008
2002 modern 6,598 #1,032
2003 modern 6,410 #1,043
2004 modern 6,395 #1,044
2005 modern 6,297 #1,042
2006 modern 6,317 #1,038
2007 modern 6,314 #1,047
2008 modern 6,349 #1,045
2009 modern 6,456 #1,053
2010 modern 6,577 #1,055
2011 modern 6,520 #1,047
2012 modern 6,358 #1,053
2013 modern 6,444 #1,055
2014 modern 6,433 #1,066
2015 modern 6,339 #1,068
2016 modern 6,259 #1,078

Geography

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Where Priestleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bradford and Halifax. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bradford and Calderdale. 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 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bradford 061 Bradford
2 Bradford 047 Bradford
3 Bradford 059 Bradford
4 Bradford 060 Bradford
5 Calderdale 003 Calderdale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Priestley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Priestley

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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, Priestley 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

Priestley is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Priestley falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Priestley

The surname Priestley originated in England and can be traced back to the 12th century. It is an occupational name derived from the Old English word "preost," meaning priest, and "leah," meaning a meadow or clearing, making it a name given to someone who lived near the priest's meadow.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, where it appears as "William de Presteley." This suggests that the name was already established in the region at that time.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various records and manuscripts, such as the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which mentions a "Thomas de Presteley" from Derbyshire.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landholdings in England compiled in 1086, does not contain the name Priestley, indicating that the name likely emerged after the Norman Conquest.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Priestley was William Priestley, born around 1489 in Yorkshire, England. He was a prominent churchman and served as the Rector of Bingley in West Yorkshire.

Sir William Priestley (1614-1707), born in Yorkshire, was a notable English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Ripon during the reign of Charles II.

Joseph Priestley (1733-1804), born in Birstall, Yorkshire, was a renowned English scholar, theologian, and scientist. He is best known for his pioneering work in the field of chemistry, including the discovery of oxygen and the invention of soda water.

John Priestley (1805-1876), born in Yorkshire, was a prominent English industrialist and philanthropist. He founded the Priestley Wool Combing Company, which played a significant role in the textile industry of the time.

Mary Priestley (1925-2008), born in Yorkshire, was a celebrated English actress known for her roles in television and theater productions.

The name Priestley has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Priestley Green in West Yorkshire and Priestley Village in Lancashire, further reinforcing its historical roots in the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Priestley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Priestley 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. Yorkshire leads with 3,341 Priestleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.82x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 3,341 6.82x
Lancashire 537 0.92x
Lincolnshire 391 4.95x
Nottinghamshire 229 3.44x
Middlesex 113 0.23x
Derbyshire 78 1.01x
Surrey 74 0.31x
Leicestershire 61 1.11x
Durham 54 0.37x
Warwickshire 30 0.24x
Cheshire 23 0.21x
Hampshire 17 0.17x
Essex 15 0.15x
Kent 15 0.09x
Northamptonshire 15 0.32x
Staffordshire 11 0.07x
Gloucestershire 8 0.08x
Lanarkshire 7 0.04x
Huntingdonshire 6 0.61x
Renfrewshire 6 0.16x
Cambridgeshire 4 0.13x
Flintshire 4 0.30x
Norfolk 4 0.05x
Sussex 4 0.05x
Wiltshire 4 0.09x
Midlothian 3 0.05x
Berkshire 2 0.05x
Northumberland 2 0.03x
Somerset 2 0.03x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.02x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.05x
Denbighshire 1 0.05x
Dorset 1 0.03x
Hertfordshire 1 0.03x
Isle of Man 1 0.11x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.06x
Suffolk 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. North Bierley in Yorkshire leads with 315 Priestleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 119.09x.

Place Total Index
North Bierley 315 119.09x
Horton In Bradford 266 34.77x
Bradford 176 14.84x
Halifax 171 23.78x
Ovenden 148 67.88x
Northowram 132 38.43x
Leeds 109 3.94x
Clayton 93 77.56x
Huddersfield 91 12.75x
Elland Cum Greetland 90 40.78x
Bowling 87 17.93x
Cleckheaton 66 36.57x
Stainland Cum Old 60 71.56x
Wyke In Bradford 54 61.64x
Allerton 49 78.46x
Oldham 47 2.48x
Thornton In Bradford 46 28.21x
Sheffield 44 2.82x
Golcar 43 33.20x
Southowram 42 28.09x
Barkisland 37 104.02x
Barton 34 728.05x
Newchurch 34 7.08x
Skircoat 33 17.08x
Hipperholme Cum 32 14.87x
Guiseley 31 49.42x
Hunslet 30 3.93x
Ashton Under Lyne 29 2.26x
Farnley In Bramley 29 47.42x
Gomersal 29 12.68x
Little Bolton 29 3.84x
Manningham 29 4.81x
Ecclesall Bierlow 28 2.81x
Nottingham St Mary 28 1.62x
Brightside Bierlow 27 2.81x
Midgley 27 51.71x
Boston 26 10.84x
Dalton In Huddersfield 26 23.69x
Idle 26 11.45x
Lambeth 26 0.60x
Pudsey 26 9.93x
Radford 26 7.68x
St Pancras London 26 0.65x
Castleton 24 4.10x
Lockwood 24 13.62x
Mirfield 24 8.92x
Salford 23 1.33x
Wortley In Bramley 23 5.93x
Bingley 22 7.05x
Liversedge 22 10.09x
Rastrick 22 16.17x
Sowerby In Halifax 22 13.73x
St Peterat Gowts Lincoln 22 19.79x
Accrington 21 3.94x
Soyland 21 35.73x
Almondbury 20 8.44x
Birmingham 20 0.48x
Loughborough 20 8.04x
Sutton Bonnington 20 117.51x
Morley 19 7.46x
Calverley Cum Farsley 18 12.94x
Ewerby 18 235.91x
Lindley Cum Quarmby 18 14.57x
Barnsley 17 3.36x
Batley 17 3.65x
Holy Trinity 17 1.44x
Spotland 17 2.61x
Worsbrough 17 11.84x
Holbeck 16 4.93x
Manchester 16 0.61x
Heckington 15 49.88x
Hucknall Torkard 15 8.88x
Waddington 15 103.81x
Bedford 14 11.41x
Ince In Makerfield 14 5.13x
Leicester St Margaret 14 1.05x
Bishopwearmouth 13 1.03x
Bury 13 1.94x
Doncaster 13 3.63x
Kirton 13 41.06x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 368
Sarah 263
Elizabeth 175
Hannah 108
Annie 100
Emma 91
Martha 87
Alice 80
Ann 78
Jane 72
Ellen 68
Emily 60
Eliza 58
Harriet 45
Clara 42
Ada 33
Edith 28
Maria 28
Margaret 27
Ruth 24
Caroline 23
Florence 23
Lucy 23
Grace 21
Anne 20
Susannah 20
Betty 18
Fanny 17
Louisa 17
Frances 15
Lydia 14
Rose 14
Charlotte 13
Nancy 13
Catherine 12
Gertrude 11
Kate 11
Rebecca 11
Esther 10
Lilly 10
Amy 9
Elizth. 9
Priscilla 9
Betsy 8
Harriett 8
Isabella 8
Rachel 8
Amelia 7
Bertha 7
Lizzie 7

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 297
William 227
James 158
Joseph 141
George 122
Thomas 107
Henry 70
Samuel 63
Arthur 62
Charles 49
Alfred 43
Edward 37
Albert 35
Fred 35
Richard 35
Walter 35
Benjamin 31
Harry 31
Herbert 28
Tom 28
Edwin 25
Isaac 25
Robert 24
Sam 21
Ernest 20
Frederick 18
Frank 17
Joe 16
Jonas 16
Abraham 14
David 12
Peter 12
Jonathan 11
Mark 11
Wm. 11
Amos 10
Edmund 8
Harold 8
Jonathon 8
Joshua 8
Thos. 8
Willie 8
Elisha 7
Ellis 7
Francis 7
Percy 7
Sidney 7
Smith 7
Fredrick 6
Geo. 6

FAQ

Priestley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Priestley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 5,074 people were recorded with the Priestley surname. That placed it at #878 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Priestley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 6,259 in 2016. That gives Priestley a modern rank of #1,078.

What does the Priestley surname mean?

An occupational surname derived from the trade of a priest or clergyman.

What does the Priestley map show?

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