UK surname
A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "the wood or shaw on the lea or meadow".
In the 1881 census there were 67 people recorded with the Shawley surname, ranking it #24,104 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 92, ranked #32,035, down from #24,104 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Wellingborough, Gidding, Great and Tamworth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Shawley is 103 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 37.3%.
1881 census count
67
Ranked #24,104
Modern count
92
2016, ranked #32,035
Peak year
1911
103 bearers
Map years
1
1911 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Shawley surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Shawley surname density by area, 1911 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 | 59 | #22,756 |
| 1861 | historical | 95 | #21,768 |
| 1881 | historical | 67 | #24,104 |
| 1891 | historical | 86 | #25,951 |
| 1901 | historical | 95 | #23,462 |
| 1911 | historical | 103 | #22,328 |
| 1997 | modern | 95 | #27,638 |
| 1998 | modern | 92 | #28,680 |
| 1999 | modern | 97 | #28,187 |
| 2000 | modern | 94 | #28,573 |
| 2001 | modern | 88 | #29,056 |
| 2002 | modern | 92 | #29,040 |
| 2003 | modern | 90 | #29,260 |
| 2004 | modern | 93 | #29,065 |
| 2005 | modern | 95 | #28,817 |
| 2006 | modern | 99 | #28,453 |
| 2007 | modern | 98 | #29,019 |
| 2008 | modern | 98 | #29,355 |
| 2009 | modern | 96 | #30,239 |
| 2010 | modern | 97 | #30,697 |
| 2011 | modern | 91 | #31,442 |
| 2012 | modern | 89 | #31,934 |
| 2013 | modern | 92 | #31,909 |
| 2014 | modern | 89 | #32,409 |
| 2015 | modern | 91 | #32,153 |
| 2016 | modern | 92 | #32,035 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Wellingborough, Gidding, Great, Tamworth, Harrowden, Little and Sawtry St Andrew, Sawtry All Saints, Sawtry St Judith, Conington. 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 | Wellingborough | Northamptonshire |
| 2 | Gidding, Great | Northamptonshire |
| 3 | Tamworth | Staffordshire |
| 4 | Harrowden, Little | Northamptonshire |
| 5 | Sawtry St Andrew, Sawtry All Saints, Sawtry St Judith, Conington | Huntingdonshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Shawley 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 Shawley, 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 Shawley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Shawley 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, Shawley 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 Shawley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Shawley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Shawley is of English origin, deriving from the Old English words 'sceaga' meaning 'small wood' and 'leah' meaning 'a clearing in a forest'. It is believed to have originated in the county of Gloucestershire during the medieval period, referring to individuals who resided near a small wooded area or clearing.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Shawley can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Gloucestershire from the late 13th century, where it appears as 'de Shawleye'. This suggests that the name was already well-established in the region at that time.
In the 14th century, the name Shawley was documented in various tax records and legal documents, such as the Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1327 and the Court Rolls of Cirencester in 1349. These records often referred to individuals with the name as 'de Shawley' or 'atte Shawley', indicating their connection to a specific location.
During the 16th century, the spelling of the name began to take on a more modern form, appearing as 'Shawley' in parish records and other documents. One notable bearer of the name was Richard Shawley (c. 1510-1570), a wealthy landowner and member of the gentry in Gloucestershire.
In the 17th century, the Shawley family continued to be prominent in Gloucestershire, with several members serving as local officials and justices of the peace. John Shawley (1628-1703) was a notable figure who held the position of High Sheriff of Gloucestershire in 1682.
As the Shawley family spread across England in subsequent centuries, the name appeared in various records and historical documents. Notable individuals included William Shawley (1768-1842), a prominent merchant and philanthropist in Bristol, and Sir John Shawley (1810-1879), a distinguished military officer who served in the Crimean War and later became a Member of Parliament.
Throughout its history, the surname Shawley has maintained a strong connection to its English roots, with many bearers of the name residing in the counties of Gloucestershire, Somerset, and Wiltshire. While not a widely prevalent surname, it has endured as a distinctive and historically significant name in the English tradition.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Shawley 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. Northamptonshire leads with 20 Shawleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.54x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Northamptonshire | 20 | 32.54x |
| Huntingdonshire | 13 | 100.15x |
| Warwickshire | 8 | 4.85x |
| Yorkshire | 8 | 1.24x |
| Middlesex | 6 | 0.92x |
| Bedfordshire | 4 | 11.82x |
| Surrey | 4 | 1.26x |
| Devon | 1 | 0.74x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.78x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.75x |
| Leicestershire | 1 | 1.38x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Little Harrowden in Northamptonshire leads with 18 Shawleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 9473.68x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Little Harrowden | 18 | 9473.68x |
| Great Gidding | 7 | 6363.64x |
| Aston | 4 | 8.81x |
| Barnsley | 4 | 59.88x |
| Birmingham | 4 | 7.28x |
| Huntingdon St Mary | 4 | 1250.00x |
| Lambeth | 4 | 7.02x |
| Wortley In Bramley | 4 | 77.97x |
| Mile End Old Town | 3 | 29.07x |
| St Marylebone London | 3 | 8.60x |
| Toddington | 3 | 612.24x |
| Godmanchester | 2 | 408.16x |
| Bedford St Peter | 1 | 113.64x |
| Carisbrooke | 1 | 53.76x |
| Cullompton | 1 | 169.49x |
| Kettering | 1 | 40.16x |
| Leicester St Margaret | 1 | 5.66x |
| Oundle | 1 | 144.93x |
| Thorpe | 1 | 714.29x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Shawley 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 Shawley 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 Shawley households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 16 |
| Ag Lab | 4 |
| Housemaid | 2 |
| Paper Bag Maker | 2 |
| Bricklayer | 1 |
| Brickmaker | 1 |
| Chapel Keeper | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Chaser | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Farm Labr | 1 |
| Farrier | 1 |
| Furnace Lab | 1 |
| Furnace Lab (Iron) | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| Lace Maker | 1 |
| Milliners Apprentice | 1 |
| Railway Carman | 1 |
| Railway Platelayer | 1 |
| Railway Signalman | 1 |
| Shopman (Rosiers?) | 1 |
| Silver Chaser | 1 |
| Soldier | 1 |
| Stationers Apprentice | 1 |
| Wife | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 67 people were recorded with the Shawley surname. That placed it at #24,104 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 92 in 2016. That gives Shawley a modern rank of #32,035.
A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "the wood or shaw on the lea or meadow".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Shawley 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.