NameCensus.

UK surname

Richley

A surname derived from a place name, likely a variation of "rich lea" meaning fertile meadowland.

In the 1881 census there were 174 people recorded with the Richley surname, ranking it #14,042 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 166, ranked #22,140, down from #14,042 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Corbridge and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Salford, Gedling and Newcastle upon Tyne.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Richley is 246 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 4.6%.

1881 census count

174

Ranked #14,042

Modern count

166

2016, ranked #22,140

Peak year

1911

246 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Richley had 174 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,042 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 166 in 2016, ranked #22,140.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 246 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Richley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Richley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Richley 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 101 #17,036
1861 historical 147 #15,539
1881 historical 174 #14,042
1891 historical 225 #13,714
1901 historical 193 #15,469
1911 historical 246 #13,054
1997 modern 201 #17,564
1998 modern 202 #17,991
1999 modern 204 #18,021
2000 modern 203 #18,043
2001 modern 198 #18,047
2002 modern 197 #18,474
2003 modern 195 #18,411
2004 modern 195 #18,500
2005 modern 183 #19,194
2006 modern 188 #19,023
2007 modern 183 #19,553
2008 modern 179 #20,015
2009 modern 184 #20,079
2010 modern 186 #20,379
2011 modern 167 #21,642
2012 modern 175 #20,984
2013 modern 172 #21,575
2014 modern 169 #22,006
2015 modern 163 #22,407
2016 modern 166 #22,140

Geography

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Where Richleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Corbridge, Gateshead, Toxteth Park and Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Salford, Gedling, Newcastle upon Tyne, Rugby and Bexley. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Corbridge Northumberland
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Toxteth Park Lancashire
5 Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) Northumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Salford 030 Salford
2 Gedling 006 Gedling
3 Newcastle upon Tyne 014 Newcastle upon Tyne
4 Rugby 004 Rugby
5 Bexley 016 Bexley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Richley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Richley

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

Richley is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Richley falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Richley

The surname Richley originates from England, arising in the late 12th century. It is derived from the Old English words "ric" meaning powerful and "leah" meaning a meadow or clearing. The name likely referred to someone who lived near a powerful or important meadow area.

Some of the earliest recorded instances of the name appear in tax rolls and parish records from Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire in the late 1200s and early 1300s. Variations in the spelling included Richelay, Richeley, and Richelee. It is believed the name may have been associated with certain place names like Richley Wood in Wiltshire or Richley Farm in Buckinghamshire, though the direct connections are unclear.

Notable early bearers of the Richley surname include William Richley, a landowner in Nottinghamshire recorded in the Hundred Rolls of 1273. John Richley of Yorkshire served as a soldier under Edward III and fought in the Battle of Crécy in 1346. Robert Richley (1489-1557) was an English clergyman who served as the Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield.

In the 16th century, Thomas Richley (1523-1586) was a renowned mathematician and astrologer who authored works on astronomy and almanacs. Around the same time, the explorer Richard Richley (1531-1601) sailed with Sir Francis Drake and helped map parts of the Pacific coast of North America during their circumnavigation.

Fast forward to the 18th century, and Elizabeth Richley (1743-1821) became a pioneering educator who established some of the earliest schools for young women in London. Her contemporary James Richley (1758-1836) was a prosperous merchant involved in the wool trade between England and the American colonies.

While not an exhaustive list, these examples illustrate the long history and varied backgrounds associated with the surname Richley originating in medieval England. The name's linguistic roots connect it to ideas of power, prosperity, and landownership among the English countryside and nobility over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Richley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Richley 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. Northumberland leads with 76 Richleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 30.09x.

County Total Index
Northumberland 76 30.09x
Durham 51 10.10x
Lancashire 9 0.45x
Yorkshire 9 0.54x
Middlesex 6 0.35x
Flintshire 5 10.96x
Surrey 5 0.60x
Leicestershire 4 2.13x
Cheshire 2 0.53x
Kent 2 0.35x
Berwickshire 1 4.87x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.97x
Cumberland 1 0.68x
Fife 1 1.00x
Northamptonshire 1 0.63x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Benfieldside in Durham leads with 15 Richleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 451.81x.

Place Total Index
Benfieldside 15 451.81x
Corbridge 14 1521.74x
East West Chevington 11 27500.00x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 10 66.31x
Westgate 10 63.94x
Lambton 8 8888.89x
Toxteth Park 8 11.73x
Tynemouth 8 59.17x
Bishop Auckland 7 103.40x
Hexham 7 179.03x
Cullercoates 6 759.49x
Escomb 6 258.62x
Gateshead 6 15.87x
Liverton 6 1538.46x
Flint 5 193.05x
Epsom 4 99.26x
Husbands Bosworth 4 833.33x
Newcastle On Tyne St 4 30.56x
Darlington 3 15.38x
Dinnington 3 2307.69x
Birkenhead 2 6.70x
Bromley London 2 5.36x
Deptford St Nicholas 2 43.48x
Lanchester 2 215.05x
Manningham 2 9.65x
Paddington London 2 3.20x
Aydon 1 1666.67x
Cleator 1 16.45x
Conside Knitsley 1 25.45x
Elswick 1 4.96x
Inverkeithing 1 66.23x
Kyo 1 42.02x
Medomsley 1 42.37x
Middle Claydon 1 769.23x
Mitcham 1 19.12x
Normanby In 1 22.22x
Peterborough 1 8.65x
Prudhoe 1 56.82x
St George Martyr 1 34.97x
Stockton On Tees 1 4.11x
Swinton 1 178.57x
Wavertree 1 15.50x
Whitechapel London 1 5.98x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 17
Elizabeth 7
Margaret 7
Dorothy 4
Sarah 4
Ann 3
Barbara 3
Jane 3
Alice 2
Emily 2
Hannah 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Amy 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Bertha 1
Catherine 1
Clara 1
Clementina 1
Dora 1
Edeth 1
Edith 1
Eliza 1
Elizh. 1
Esther 1
Fanny 1
Flora 1
Florence 1
Hanah 1
Harriet 1
Helen 1
Helena 1
Isabel 1
Isabella 1
Kate 1
Lilly 1
Lousa 1
Phoebe 1
Winfrid 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 13
William 13
Robert 9
George 5
Alfred 4
Edward 4
Rowland 4
Frederick 3
Henry 3
Matthew 3
Nicholas 3
Thos. 3
Joseph 2
Stephen 2
Charles 1
Dalton 1
Dobson 1
Edwin 1
Francis 1
Herbert 1
James 1
Jonathan 1
Montague 1
Norman 1
Peter 1
Richard 1
Samuel 1
Sidney 1
Thomas 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Richley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Richley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 174 people were recorded with the Richley surname. That placed it at #14,042 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Richley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 166 in 2016. That gives Richley a modern rank of #22,140.

What does the Richley surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name, likely a variation of "rich lea" meaning fertile meadowland.

What does the Richley map show?

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