UK surname
A locational surname derived from the town of Sailly in northern France.
In the 1881 census there were 26 people recorded with the Saley surname, ranking it #29,911 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 23, ranked #36,457, down from #29,911 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Ealing, Chiswick, St Dunstan Stepney and Liverpool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Saley is 126 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 11.5%.
1881 census count
26
Ranked #29,911
Modern count
23
2016, ranked #36,457
Peak year
1861
126 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Saley surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Saley 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 | 32 | #27,570 |
| 1861 | historical | 126 | #17,569 |
| 1881 | historical | 26 | #29,911 |
| 1891 | historical | 78 | #27,035 |
| 1901 | historical | 32 | #30,501 |
| 1911 | historical | 24 | #30,800 |
| 1997 | modern | 22 | #35,584 |
| 1998 | modern | 20 | #35,885 |
| 1999 | modern | 16 | #36,371 |
| 2000 | modern | 21 | #35,799 |
| 2001 | modern | 18 | #35,961 |
| 2002 | modern | 20 | #35,894 |
| 2003 | modern | 19 | #36,011 |
| 2004 | modern | 17 | #36,342 |
| 2005 | modern | 17 | #36,407 |
| 2006 | modern | 15 | #36,707 |
| 2007 | modern | 16 | #36,714 |
| 2008 | modern | 22 | #36,281 |
| 2009 | modern | 23 | #36,313 |
| 2010 | modern | 25 | #36,273 |
| 2011 | modern | 24 | #36,306 |
| 2012 | modern | 24 | #36,288 |
| 2013 | modern | 23 | #36,414 |
| 2014 | modern | 23 | #36,417 |
| 2015 | modern | 23 | #36,424 |
| 2016 | modern | 23 | #36,457 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Ealing, Chiswick, St Dunstan Stepney, Liverpool, Merriott and St Matthew Bethnal Green. 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 | Ealing, Chiswick | Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts) |
| 2 | St Dunstan Stepney | London (East Districts) |
| 3 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| 4 | Merriott | Somerset |
| 5 | St Matthew Bethnal Green | London (East Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Saley 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 Saley, 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 Saley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Saley 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, Saley 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 Saley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Saley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Saley has its roots in England, tracing back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have originated from the Old English word 'sælg,' which means 'willow.' This suggests that the name may have been derived from a location or settlement where willow trees were abundant, potentially a place like Willow Brook or Willow Grove.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Saley can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land and landholdings commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry mentions a person named "Sælig" residing in the county of Norfolk.
During the 13th century, variations such as "Saleye" and "Saleghe" appeared in various medieval records, reflecting the evolution of spelling and pronunciation over time. These variations likely stemmed from the Anglo-Norman influence on the English language following the Norman Conquest.
In the 14th century, a notable bearer of the name was Sir John Saley, a prominent landowner and knight who served under King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War. Records indicate that Sir John Saley was born in 1320 and participated in several military campaigns against the French.
Another historically significant individual with the surname Saley was William Saley, a merchant and alderman of the City of London in the late 16th century. Born around 1550, William Saley was a respected figure in the city's commercial circles and served as the Sheriff of London in 1583.
In the 17th century, the surname Saley was associated with the village of Salisbury in Wiltshire, England. Some records from this period refer to individuals as "Saley of Salisbury," indicating a potential connection between the name and this particular place name.
A notable figure from the 18th century was Thomas Saley, a renowned architect and surveyor born in 1705. Saley was responsible for designing several notable buildings in London, including the Foundling Hospital and the Mansfield Street Chapel.
As the centuries progressed, the surname Saley continued to be present in various regions of England, with some variations emerging, such as "Salley" and "Sallie." However, the core origins and meaning of the name remained rooted in the Old English word 'sælg' and its association with willow trees.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Saley 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. Lancashire leads with 7 Saleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.33x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 7 | 2.33x |
| Yorkshire | 6 | 2.39x |
| Somerset | 3 | 7.35x |
| Surrey | 3 | 2.43x |
| Worcestershire | 3 | 9.06x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.39x |
| Midlothian | 1 | 2.94x |
| Shropshire | 1 | 4.56x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 1.17x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 5 Saleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.37x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Liverpool | 5 | 27.37x |
| Aston Cum Aughton | 4 | 1904.76x |
| Oldberrow | 3 | 30000.00x |
| Southwark St Saviour | 3 | 230.77x |
| Wellington | 3 | 545.45x |
| Burnley | 2 | 79.05x |
| Wales | 2 | 1000.00x |
| Edgmond | 1 | 416.67x |
| Hornsey | 1 | 31.15x |
| Sedgley | 1 | 31.45x |
| South Leith | 1 | 26.18x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Saley 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 Saley 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 Saley households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 5 |
| Coalminer | 2 |
| Blacksmith | 1 |
| Brush Maker | 1 |
| Brush Maker Wife | 1 |
| Clerk | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Farmer 30 Acres | 1 |
| Furrier | 1 |
| Gardener | 1 |
| Lab Genl | 1 |
| Labourer Dock | 1 |
| Merchants Clerk | 1 |
| Old Clothes Dealer | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 26 people were recorded with the Saley surname. That placed it at #29,911 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 23 in 2016. That gives Saley a modern rank of #36,457.
A locational surname derived from the town of Sailly in northern France.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Saley 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.