UK surname
An English occupational surname for someone who gathered or sold willow branches, derived from Old English "salig" meaning "willow."
In the 1881 census there were 29 people recorded with the Salley surname, ranking it #29,484 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 35, ranked #35,703, down from #29,484 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Toxteth Park, Manchester and Long Benton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Salley is 172 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 20.7%.
1881 census count
29
Ranked #29,484
Modern count
35
2016, ranked #35,703
Peak year
1861
172 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Salley surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Salley surname density by area, 1891 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 | 43 | #25,518 |
| 1861 | historical | 172 | #13,619 |
| 1881 | historical | 29 | #29,484 |
| 1891 | historical | 101 | #23,870 |
| 1901 | historical | 59 | #27,609 |
| 1911 | historical | 45 | #28,332 |
| 1997 | modern | 29 | #34,795 |
| 1998 | modern | 32 | #34,633 |
| 1999 | modern | 30 | #34,939 |
| 2000 | modern | 29 | #34,976 |
| 2001 | modern | 29 | #34,839 |
| 2002 | modern | 32 | #34,790 |
| 2003 | modern | 33 | #34,773 |
| 2004 | modern | 29 | #35,270 |
| 2005 | modern | 32 | #35,191 |
| 2006 | modern | 32 | #35,392 |
| 2007 | modern | 31 | #35,592 |
| 2008 | modern | 34 | #35,502 |
| 2009 | modern | 34 | #35,608 |
| 2010 | modern | 33 | #35,794 |
| 2011 | modern | 31 | #35,892 |
| 2012 | modern | 39 | #35,415 |
| 2013 | modern | 34 | #35,761 |
| 2014 | modern | 34 | #35,784 |
| 2015 | modern | 37 | #35,593 |
| 2016 | modern | 35 | #35,703 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Toxteth Park, Manchester, Long Benton, Glasgow and Arnold. 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 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 3 | Long Benton | Northumberland |
| 4 | Glasgow | Lanark |
| 5 | Arnold | Nottinghamshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Salley 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 Salley, 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 Salley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Salley 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, Salley 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 Salley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Salley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname SALLEY is of English origin, with roots tracing back to the medieval era. It is believed to have derived from the old English word "Sæli," which means "dwelling" or "hall," referring to a person who lived near a prominent hall or manor house.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name SALLEY can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landowners and estates commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry mentions a landowner named Radulfus de Saleya, which is likely an early variation of the modern SALLEY surname.
During the 13th and 14th centuries, the name SALLEY appeared in various records and manuscripts, often associated with places like Salley Abbey in Yorkshire, England, and the village of Salley in Lancashire. These place names likely influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.
Notable individuals with the surname SALLEY throughout history include:
1. John Salley (c. 1390-1458), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Chancellor of the University of Cambridge from 1452 until his death.
2. William Salley (c. 1520-1594), an English merchant and explorer who participated in Sir Francis Drake's circumnavigation of the globe from 1577 to 1580.
3. Elizabeth Salley (c. 1660-1720), a renowned English embroiderer and textile artist whose works were highly sought after by the nobility and aristocracy of her time.
4. Sir Thomas Salley (1745-1822), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars, ultimately attaining the rank of Admiral.
5. Robert Salley (1868-1932), an American politician and lawyer who served as the Attorney General of South Carolina from 1915 to 1919.
The surname SALLEY has also been associated with various place names and locations, including Salley in Derbyshire, Salley Priory in Yorkshire, and Salley Abbey in Lancashire, further cementing its English roots and historical significance.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Salley 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 10 Salleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.98x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 10 | 2.98x |
| Nottinghamshire | 9 | 23.61x |
| Surrey | 4 | 2.90x |
| Gloucestershire | 3 | 5.41x |
| Devon | 1 | 1.70x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 1.09x |
| Sussex | 1 | 2.10x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Arnold in Nottinghamshire leads with 8 Salleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1428.57x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Arnold | 8 | 1428.57x |
| Toxteth Park | 8 | 70.42x |
| Lambeth | 4 | 16.22x |
| Cheltenham | 3 | 70.09x |
| Ardwick | 1 | 33.00x |
| Broadwater | 1 | 91.74x |
| Dawlish | 1 | 227.27x |
| Govan | 1 | 4.42x |
| Nottingham St Mary | 1 | 10.14x |
| Salford | 1 | 10.13x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Salley 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 Salley 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 Salley households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Schollar | 5 |
| Frame Work Knitter | 4 |
| Scholar | 2 |
| Seamer | 2 |
| Commissionaire (Mess) | 1 |
| Dock Lab | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Doubler (C) | 1 |
| General Serv | 1 |
| Grocer & Confectioner | 1 |
| Machinist Dressmaker | 1 |
| Seamer Knitter | 1 |
| Shirt Maker | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 29 people were recorded with the Salley surname. That placed it at #29,484 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 35 in 2016. That gives Salley a modern rank of #35,703.
An English occupational surname for someone who gathered or sold willow branches, derived from Old English "salig" meaning "willow."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Salley 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.