UK surname
A variant of the English surname Rowley, derived from place names meaning "rough clearing".
In the 1881 census there were 2 people recorded with the Ruley surname, ranking it #33,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1, ranked #39,061, down from #33,721 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Toxteth Park, North Meols and St Dunstan Stepney. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ruley is 105 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 50.0%.
1881 census count
2
Ranked #33,721
Modern count
1
2016, ranked #39,061
Peak year
1861
105 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Ruley surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Ruley 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 | 30 | #27,891 |
| 1861 | historical | 105 | #20,298 |
| 1881 | historical | 2 | #33,721 |
| 1891 | historical | 98 | #24,313 |
| 1901 | historical | 11 | #32,907 |
| 1911 | historical | 7 | #33,083 |
| 1997 | modern | 4 | #38,094 |
| 2009 | modern | 1 | #38,998 |
| 2010 | modern | 1 | #39,020 |
| 2012 | modern | 1 | #38,986 |
| 2013 | modern | 1 | #39,008 |
| 2014 | modern | 1 | #39,020 |
| 2015 | modern | 1 | #39,021 |
| 2016 | modern | 1 | #39,061 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Toxteth Park, North Meols, St Dunstan Stepney, Manchester and St Leonard Bromley. 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 | Toxteth Park | Lancashire |
| 2 | North Meols | Lancashire |
| 3 | St Dunstan Stepney | London (East Districts) |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | St Leonard Bromley | London (East Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Ruley 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 Ruley, 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 Ruley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Ruley 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, Ruley 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 Ruley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Ruley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname RULEY is believed to have originated in England, with its earliest known records dating back to the 12th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Old English words "ru" and "leah," which collectively translate to "rough clearing" or "rough meadow." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who lived in or near a rough, uneven area of land.
One of the earliest known references to the name RULEY can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Hertfordshire, a historical record of tax payments made to the English Crown, dating back to 1194. The entry mentions a "William Ruley" as a landowner in the county.
In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as "Rulegh" and "Ruelegh," reflecting the fluidity of spelling during that era. A notable figure from this time period was Sir John Ruley, a knight who served under King Edward I during the Scottish Wars of Independence in the late 13th century.
The Hundredorum Rolls, a census-like survey conducted in England between 1273 and 1274, also contains several mentions of individuals with the surname RULEY or its variants, indicating the name's presence across various regions of the country.
During the 16th century, the name RULEY gained prominence in the county of Gloucestershire, where several individuals bearing the name were recorded as landowners and influential members of the local community. One such figure was Thomas Ruley (c. 1520-1587), a wealthy merchant and benefactor who funded the construction of a grammar school in the town of Winchcombe.
Another notable RULEY was Sir John Ruley (1575-1642), a Member of Parliament and loyal supporter of King Charles I during the English Civil War. He fought for the Royalist cause and played a significant role in the defense of Gloucester against the Parliamentarian forces.
In the 18th century, the RULEY family had established themselves in the county of Derbyshire, where a prominent member, William Ruley (1715-1792), served as the High Sheriff of Derbyshire in 1765. His son, also named William Ruley (1745-1817), was a respected lawyer and Justice of the Peace in the same county.
Throughout the centuries, the RULEY surname has been associated with various place names and locations, such as Ruley Lane in Gloucestershire and Ruley Farm in Derbyshire, further solidifying the name's historical roots and connections to specific regions of England.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ruley 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. Staffordshire leads with 2 Ruleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 30.72x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Staffordshire | 2 | 30.72x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Horninglow in Staffordshire leads with 2 Ruleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 6666.67x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Horninglow | 2 | 6666.67x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Ruley surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Myra | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Ruley surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Ths. | 1 |
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 Ruley households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Gate Pointeman | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 2 people were recorded with the Ruley surname. That placed it at #33,721 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 1 in 2016. That gives Ruley a modern rank of #39,061.
A variant of the English surname Rowley, derived from place names meaning "rough clearing".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Ruley 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.