NameCensus.

UK surname

Schooley

An occupational surname for a person who taught at or was associated with a school.

In the 1881 census there were 72 people recorded with the Schooley surname, ranking it #23,371 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 160, ranked #22,694, up from #23,371 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Kingston-on-Thames and Brighton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Arun and Brighton and Hove.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Schooley is 169 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 122.2%.

1881 census count

72

Ranked #23,371

Modern count

160

2016, ranked #22,694

Peak year

2011

169 bearers

Map years

4

1911 to 2016

Key insights

  • Schooley had 72 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #23,371 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 160 in 2016, ranked #22,694.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 115 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy Industrial and Coastal Communities.

Schooley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Schooley surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Schooley 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 49 #24,448
1861 historical 44 #28,433
1881 historical 72 #23,371
1891 historical 96 #24,559
1901 historical 94 #23,588
1911 historical 115 #20,951
1997 modern 146 #21,494
1998 modern 149 #21,755
1999 modern 153 #21,551
2000 modern 157 #21,146
2001 modern 142 #22,234
2002 modern 153 #21,609
2003 modern 148 #21,866
2004 modern 149 #21,905
2005 modern 157 #21,128
2006 modern 154 #21,576
2007 modern 159 #21,387
2008 modern 154 #22,034
2009 modern 158 #22,168
2010 modern 161 #22,385
2011 modern 169 #21,499
2012 modern 154 #22,870
2013 modern 154 #23,210
2014 modern 157 #23,101
2015 modern 161 #22,599
2016 modern 160 #22,694

Geography

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Where Schooleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Kingston-on-Thames, Brighton and St Botolph Bishopgate. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Arun and Brighton and Hove. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Kingston-on-Thames Surrey
3 London parishes London 3
4 Brighton Sussex
5 St Botolph Bishopgate London (Central Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Arun 017 Arun
2 Arun 016 Arun
3 Arun 014 Arun
4 Brighton and Hove 001 Brighton and Hove
5 Brighton and Hove 025 Brighton and Hove

Forenames

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First names often paired with Schooley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Schooley

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Schooley, 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

Baseline UK

Group

Legacy Industrial and Coastal Communities

Nationally, the Schooley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy Industrial and Coastal Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Schooley household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Single-person households are common in these neighbourhoods, and these residents are typically divorced rather than never married. A high proportion of residents were born outside the UK in the EU. There are many young adults, some with young children, but relatively few residents are of normal retirement age or over. Although levels of identification with ethnic minorities are in line with the Supergroup average, individuals identifying with Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is more common than average. High long-term disability rates are observed, and unpaid care is more common than in the rest of the Group. The predominant housing types are terraced houses and flats, which are typically part of the social rented sector. This Group is commonly found in coastal areas and (present-day or former) industrial towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Schooley is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Schooley is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Schooley 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 Schooley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Schooley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Schooley

The surname Schooley has its origins in England, tracing back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "scol" or "scolu," meaning "school" or "place of learning," combined with the suffix "-ey" or "-y," indicating a location or place.

One of the earliest recorded references to this surname can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1275, where it appears as "de Scoleley." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone residing near or associated with a school or educational institution.

During the Middle Ages, the name was also spelled in various ways, such as Scoleye, Scoley, and Scouley, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling practices of the time. It is likely that the surname originated from a specific place name, although the exact location remains uncertain.

One notable individual bearing this surname was Sir John Schooley, who lived in the late 14th century and served as a member of the English Parliament. Another historical figure was Thomas Schooley, born in 1603, who was among the early settlers of New Jersey in the American colonies.

In the 17th century, the name gained prominence in Scotland, particularly in the Borders region. One of the earliest recorded instances is Robert Schooley, born in 1620 in Berwickshire, who later became a prominent merchant and landowner.

Moving into the 18th century, William Schooley (1715-1798) was a notable figure who served as a captain in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. His descendants went on to establish themselves in various parts of the United States.

Another individual of note was Elizabeth Schooley (1788-1863), a Quaker minister and advocate for abolition and women's rights in the early 19th century. She was known for her powerful sermons and efforts to promote social justice.

Throughout history, the Schooley surname has been present across various regions, with bearers contributing to various fields, including education, politics, business, and social reform movements.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Schooley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Schooley 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. Sussex leads with 44 Schooleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 37.16x.

County Total Index
Sussex 44 37.16x
Middlesex 16 2.28x
Surrey 8 2.34x
Yorkshire 3 0.43x
Hertfordshire 1 2.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brighton in Sussex leads with 39 Schooleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 163.25x.

Place Total Index
Brighton 39 163.25x
Islington London 8 11.75x
St Botolph Bishopsgate 8 808.08x
Bermondsey 5 23.91x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 3 46.30x
Hove 3 57.69x
Newington 3 11.57x
East Barnet 1 104.17x
New Shoreham 1 140.85x
Preston 1 48.31x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 5
Anne 2
Caroline 2
Edith 2
Elizabeth 2
Florence 2
Ada 1
Alice 1
Ann 1
Annie 1
Blanche 1
Christiannia 1
Dorothy 1
Eliza 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Fanny 1
Gertrude 1
Helenna 1
Laura 1
Louisa 1
Martha 1
Matilda 1
Rose 1
Sarah 1
Selina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 5
George 4
John 4
Charles 3
Richard 3
Arthur 2
Benjamin 2
Harry 2
Henry 2
Albert 1
Coates 1
David 1
Ernest 1
Frederick 1
James 1
Roger 1
Seton 1
Stephen 1
Wm. 1

Top occupations

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 Schooley households.

FAQ

Schooley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Schooley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 72 people were recorded with the Schooley surname. That placed it at #23,371 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Schooley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 160 in 2016. That gives Schooley a modern rank of #22,694.

What does the Schooley surname mean?

An occupational surname for a person who taught at or was associated with a school.

What does the Schooley map show?

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