NameCensus.

UK surname

Routley

An English surname deriving from a place name, referring to someone from a locality with this name.

In the 1881 census there were 381 people recorded with the Routley surname, ranking it #8,240 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 536, ranked #9,486, down from #8,240 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Sampford Brett, Bicknoller, Stogumber and Kilkhampton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Somerset, Dacorum and Taunton Deane.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Routley is 609 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 40.7%.

1881 census count

381

Ranked #8,240

Modern count

536

2016, ranked #9,486

Peak year

2002

609 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Routley had 381 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,240 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 536 in 2016, ranked #9,486.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 570 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Routley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Routley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Routley 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 230 #9,368
1861 historical 231 #10,572
1881 historical 381 #8,240
1891 historical 416 #8,596
1901 historical 556 #7,474
1911 historical 570 #7,107
1997 modern 561 #8,538
1998 modern 576 #8,608
1999 modern 581 #8,622
2000 modern 591 #8,507
2001 modern 589 #8,405
2002 modern 609 #8,368
2003 modern 570 #8,619
2004 modern 561 #8,736
2005 modern 544 #8,859
2006 modern 531 #9,063
2007 modern 530 #9,144
2008 modern 549 #8,978
2009 modern 552 #9,145
2010 modern 560 #9,225
2011 modern 555 #9,200
2012 modern 544 #9,245
2013 modern 545 #9,410
2014 modern 547 #9,426
2015 modern 543 #9,419
2016 modern 536 #9,486

Geography

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Where Routleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Sampford Brett, Bicknoller, Stogumber, Kilkhampton and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Somerset, Dacorum and Taunton Deane. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Sampford Brett, Bicknoller, Stogumber Somerset
3 Kilkhampton Cornwall
4 London parishes London 1
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Somerset 003 West Somerset
2 West Somerset 004 West Somerset
3 Dacorum 002 Dacorum
4 West Somerset 002 West Somerset
5 Taunton Deane 004 Taunton Deane

Forenames

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First names often paired with Routley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Routley

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Routley is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Routley is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Routley falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Routley

The surname Routley is an English locational name derived from places in Northamptonshire and Rutland, formerly known as Roueley or Rowley. The name has its origins in the Old English words 'rough' and 'leah', meaning a rough or untamed woodland clearing. This indicates that the earliest bearers of the name likely resided in or near such a clearing.

The Routley name can be traced back to the 12th century, with records showing a Walter de Roueley in the Pipe Rolls of Northamptonshire in 1196. The spelling variations in early records include Roweley, Rowley, Rouley, and Roueley, reflecting the regional dialects and scribal errors common in those times.

One of the earliest documented instances of the name appears in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1281, where a Richard de Roueley is mentioned. This provides evidence of the name's presence in the region during the 13th century.

The Routley name has a connection to the village of Rowley in East Staffordshire, which was recorded as Rauleia in the Domesday Book of 1086. This suggests that some Routley families may have originated from this area or taken their name from the village.

Notable historical figures bearing the Routley surname include:

1. Sir William Routley (c. 1470 - 1537), an English nobleman and landowner who served as Sheriff of Northamptonshire in 1523. 2. John Routley (1590 - 1655), an English Puritan minister and author, known for his theological works. 3. Thomas Routley (1644 - 1718), an English composer and organist who served as the Master of the Children at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford. 4. Mary Routley (1788 - 1858), an English philanthropist and social reformer, known for her work in establishing schools for the poor. 5. William Routley (1826 - 1903), a British architect and designer, best known for his contributions to the Gothic Revival style in church architecture.

While the Routley name has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora, with families bearing this surname found in various countries today.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Routley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Routley 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 117 Routleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.98x.

County Total Index
Somerset 117 19.98x
Devon 84 11.09x
Cornwall 50 12.14x
Surrey 47 2.65x
Middlesex 22 0.60x
Gloucestershire 15 2.10x
Warwickshire 8 0.87x
Worcestershire 7 1.47x
Lancashire 4 0.09x
Berkshire 3 1.10x
Kent 3 0.24x
Essex 2 0.28x
Monmouthshire 2 0.76x
Yorkshire 2 0.06x
Ayrshire 1 0.37x
Bedfordshire 1 0.53x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.43x
Glamorgan 1 0.16x
Huntingdonshire 1 1.38x
Midlothian 1 0.21x
Oxfordshire 1 0.45x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kilkhampton in Cornwall leads with 18 Routleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1487.60x.

Place Total Index
Kilkhampton 18 1487.60x
Nether Stowey 15 1630.43x
North Tamerton 14 2333.33x
Holsworthy 13 607.48x
Camberwell 12 5.16x
Alfold 11 1641.79x
Bridgewater 11 69.18x
Stogumber 11 709.68x
Ashburton 10 276.24x
Williton 10 510.20x
Bermondsey 9 8.31x
Bicknoller 8 1951.22x
Birmingham 8 2.62x
Monksilver 8 2424.24x
Stringston 8 5714.29x
Weston 8 177.78x
Bristol St George 7 21.21x
Exeter St David 7 108.19x
Lambeth 7 2.21x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 6 8.93x
Burlescombe 6 582.52x
Exeter St Thomas The 6 77.72x
Kidderminster Foreign 6 89.29x
Spaxton 6 526.32x
St George Hanover 6 12.63x
Whitstone 6 1176.47x
Callington 5 208.33x
Crowcombe 5 909.09x
Kensington London 5 2.47x
Nettlecombe 5 1351.35x
St Decumans Watchet 5 337.84x
West Quantoxhead 5 1428.57x
Harrow 4 71.94x
Hollacombe 4 2857.14x
Marhamchurch 4 597.01x
Newington 4 2.98x
Over Stowey 4 615.38x
Sampford Brett 4 1481.48x
Sowton 4 784.31x
Buckfastleigh 3 85.96x
Canterbury St Mary 3 36.01x
Exeter St George The 3 357.14x
North Meols 3 7.10x
Plymouth St Andrew 3 5.14x
St George Martyr 3 48.94x
Sutcombe 3 576.92x
Thatcham 3 71.26x
Thrushelton 3 566.04x
Bondleigh 2 833.33x
Bridestow 2 250.00x
Clifton 2 5.54x
Godstone 2 62.89x
Graig 2 169.49x
Lidford 2 58.82x
Lympston 2 148.15x
Scriven Cum Tentergate 2 149.25x
Tiverton 2 15.33x
Battersea 1 0.75x
Bedford St Paul 1 7.74x
Berry Pomeroy 1 79.37x
Buckden 1 76.92x
Chelsea London 1 0.91x
Churston Ferrers 1 126.58x
Clatworthy 1 357.14x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 0.51x
Exeter St Mary Major 1 21.88x
Exeter St Mary Steps 1 58.48x
Hillingdon 1 8.62x
Kilve 1 357.14x
Kirkdale 1 1.38x
Lanteglos 1 52.63x
Morwenstow 1 99.01x
Sidmouth 1 23.04x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 1.37x
St Luke London 1 1.71x
Stratton 1 44.84x
Swansea Town 1 1.93x
Uffculme 1 44.25x
West Ham 1 0.63x
Whitchurch 1 75.19x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 23
Charles 18
John 18
James 16
George 15
Henry 11
Richard 8
Robert 7
Edwin 6
Frederick 6
Frank 5
Sidney 5
Thomas 5
Albert 4
Alfred 4
Walter 4
Francis 3
Joseph 3
Ernest 2
Matthew 2
Samuel 2
Abraham 1
Abram 1
Arthur 1
Celi 1
Charlie 1
Chas. 1
Christopher 1
Daniel 1
Douglas 1
Edmund 1
Edwd. 1
Eldred 1
Gerald 1
Harry 1
Isaac 1
Mathew 1
Newton 1
Noel 1
Rich. 1
Robt.W. 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Routley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Routley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 381 people were recorded with the Routley surname. That placed it at #8,240 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Routley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 536 in 2016. That gives Routley a modern rank of #9,486.

What does the Routley surname mean?

An English surname deriving from a place name, referring to someone from a locality with this name.

What does the Routley map show?

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