UK surname
A French surname referring to a person from a place by that name.
In the 1881 census there were 12 people recorded with the Resley surname, ranking it #31,914 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5, ranked #38,264, down from #31,914 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Whitwell, Charlton-near-Dover and Ashford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Resley is 115 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 58.3%.
1881 census count
12
Ranked #31,914
Modern count
5
2016, ranked #38,264
Peak year
1861
115 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Resley surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Resley surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 19 | #29,904 |
| 1861 | historical | 115 | #18,880 |
| 1881 | historical | 12 | #31,914 |
| 1891 | historical | 29 | #31,963 |
| 1901 | historical | 13 | #32,633 |
| 1911 | historical | 10 | #32,609 |
| 1997 | modern | 2 | #38,557 |
| 1998 | modern | 4 | #38,082 |
| 1999 | modern | 4 | #38,100 |
| 2000 | modern | 5 | #37,823 |
| 2001 | modern | 5 | #37,652 |
| 2002 | modern | 5 | #37,723 |
| 2003 | modern | 5 | #37,750 |
| 2004 | modern | 4 | #38,013 |
| 2005 | modern | 4 | #38,078 |
| 2006 | modern | 4 | #38,130 |
| 2007 | modern | 4 | #38,169 |
| 2008 | modern | 4 | #38,216 |
| 2009 | modern | 5 | #38,122 |
| 2010 | modern | 6 | #38,024 |
| 2011 | modern | 4 | #38,338 |
| 2012 | modern | 9 | #37,614 |
| 2013 | modern | 5 | #38,195 |
| 2014 | modern | 6 | #38,077 |
| 2015 | modern | 4 | #38,392 |
| 2016 | modern | 5 | #38,264 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Whitwell, Charlton-near-Dover, Ashford, St Sepulchre and Stockport. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Whitwell | Nottinghamshire |
| 2 | Charlton-near-Dover | Kent |
| 3 | Ashford | Kent |
| 4 | St Sepulchre | London (Central Districts) |
| 5 | Stockport | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Resley surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Resley, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Resley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Resley household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Resley is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Resley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Resley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname RESLEY is believed to have originated in England, with the earliest records dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English words "ris" meaning "brush" or "brushwood" and "leah" meaning "a clearing in a forest." Thus, RESLEY likely referred to someone who lived in a clearing or settlement surrounded by brushwood.
One of the earliest known references to the name RESLEY can be found in the Hertfordshire Pipe Rolls of 1268, which mention a person named "John de Risleye." The addition of the prefix "de" before the surname suggests that the family may have been of Norman descent or had connections with the Norman nobility.
In the 14th century, the name appeared in various spellings, such as "Riseley," "Ryseley," and "Ryslee," reflecting the fluidity of spelling conventions during that period. One notable bearer of the name was Sir John Resley, a knight who fought in the Battle of Poitiers during the Hundred Years' War in 1356.
The RESLEY surname was also associated with several place names in England, such as Riseley in Bedfordshire and Risley in Derbyshire. These place names likely contributed to the widespread adoption of the surname across different regions.
Another prominent figure with the RESLEY surname was Sir Thomas Resley (1580-1647), a Member of Parliament and landowner in Lincolnshire. He played a significant role in the English Civil War, initially supporting the Royalist cause but later switching allegiance to the Parliamentarians.
In the 18th century, the name RESLEY gained further recognition with the birth of William Resley (1740-1812), a renowned English architect who designed several notable buildings, including the Freemasons' Hall in London.
During the 19th century, the RESLEY surname continued to be found across various parts of England, with notable individuals such as John Resley (1822-1891), a successful industrialist and philanthropist who established several charitable foundations in Lancashire.
Overall, the surname RESLEY has a rich history rooted in the English countryside, with its earliest bearers likely residing in clearings or settlements surrounded by brushwood. Over the centuries, the name has been associated with notable individuals from various walks of life, including knights, politicians, architects, and industrialists.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Resley surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 5 Resleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.28x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 5 | 4.28x |
| Devon | 4 | 16.45x |
| Surrey | 2 | 3.51x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.72x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Limehouse London in Middlesex leads with 5 Resleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 390.63x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Limehouse London | 5 | 390.63x |
| Plymouth St Andrew | 4 | 213.90x |
| Croydon | 1 | 31.65x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 9.81x |
| Lytham | 1 | 476.19x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Resley surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Resley surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Resley households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Clerk Savings Bank | 1 |
| Customs House Officer (C...) | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Needle Woman | 1 |
| Plumber | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 12 people were recorded with the Resley surname. That placed it at #31,914 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 5 in 2016. That gives Resley a modern rank of #38,264.
A French surname referring to a person from a place by that name.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Resley bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.