NameCensus.

UK surname

Shorey

Habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "steep bank" or "steep hill" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 308 people recorded with the Shorey surname, ranking it #9,542 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 520, ranked #9,720, down from #9,542 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Broadway, St Leonard Shoreditch and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Havering, Christchurch and Weymouth and Portland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Shorey is 611 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 68.8%.

1881 census count

308

Ranked #9,542

Modern count

520

2016, ranked #9,720

Peak year

1999

611 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Shorey had 308 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,542 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 520 in 2016, ranked #9,720.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 463 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Shorey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Shorey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Shorey 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 178 #11,397
1861 historical 236 #10,393
1881 historical 308 #9,542
1891 historical 377 #9,302
1901 historical 406 #9,393
1911 historical 463 #8,325
1997 modern 577 #8,371
1998 modern 605 #8,343
1999 modern 611 #8,345
2000 modern 575 #8,648
2001 modern 571 #8,575
2002 modern 607 #8,387
2003 modern 573 #8,592
2004 modern 554 #8,812
2005 modern 532 #9,019
2006 modern 519 #9,223
2007 modern 507 #9,470
2008 modern 509 #9,513
2009 modern 528 #9,453
2010 modern 536 #9,559
2011 modern 522 #9,645
2012 modern 512 #9,693
2013 modern 521 #9,722
2014 modern 518 #9,833
2015 modern 520 #9,741
2016 modern 520 #9,720

Geography

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Where Shoreys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Broadway, St Leonard Shoreditch, London parishes, Gateshead and St Pancras. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Havering, Christchurch, Weymouth and Portland, Wychavon and St Albans. 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 Broadway Worcestershire
2 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 Gateshead Durham
5 St Pancras London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Havering 028 Havering
2 Christchurch 003 Christchurch
3 Weymouth and Portland 009 Weymouth and Portland
4 Wychavon 016 Wychavon
5 St Albans 014 St Albans

Forenames

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First names often paired with Shorey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Shorey

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

Challenged Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Shorey is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Shorey is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Shorey falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Shorey is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Shorey

The surname Shorey is believed to have originated in England, with records indicating its presence as early as the 13th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Old English word "scir," meaning "bright" or "shining," which could have been used to describe someone with a bright complexion or personality.

One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire, dated around 1273, where a William Schory is mentioned. This early spelling variation is indicative of the name's evolution over time.

In the 14th century, records show the name appearing in various parts of England, including Yorkshire, where a John Shorey was documented in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379. The name's presence in different regions suggests that it may have originated in multiple places independently.

The Shorey surname also has links to certain place names in England. For instance, there is a hamlet called Shorey in Shropshire, which may have influenced the surname's development in that area.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Shorey surname. One such figure was Sir John Shorey (1472-1534), a prominent English diplomat and ambassador who served under King Henry VIII. Another was Edmund Shorey (1687-1761), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works.

In the 17th century, the name found its way to the American colonies, with records indicating the presence of a Samuel Shorey in Massachusetts as early as 1630. Over time, the Shorey family settled in various parts of New England, with some members achieving notable accomplishments.

John Leavitt Shorey (1830-1909) was an American lawyer and judge who served as a United States District Judge for the District of Minnesota. Samuel Herbert Shorey (1859-1919) was a Canadian lawyer, politician, and judge who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.

Another notable figure was Paul Shorey (1857-1934), an American classical scholar and professor at the University of Chicago, known for his translations of ancient Greek works and his contributions to the study of Greek literature.

The Shorey surname has persisted throughout the centuries, with various branches of the family tree establishing roots in different parts of the world, each carrying their own unique histories and stories.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Shorey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Shorey 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. Middlesex leads with 84 Shoreys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.79x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 84 2.79x
Dorset 45 22.75x
Kent 36 3.50x
Surrey 33 2.25x
Worcestershire 21 5.34x
Gloucestershire 16 2.71x
Berkshire 15 6.63x
Lancashire 9 0.25x
Durham 8 0.89x
Oxfordshire 8 4.30x
Sussex 8 1.57x
Warwickshire 7 0.92x
Essex 4 0.67x
Northamptonshire 4 1.41x
Buckinghamshire 3 1.65x
Hampshire 3 0.49x
Northumberland 1 0.22x
Royal Navy 1 2.78x
Somerset 1 0.21x
Suffolk 1 0.27x
Yorkshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Shoreditch London in Middlesex leads with 23 Shoreys recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.60x.

Place Total Index
Shoreditch London 23 17.60x
Yetminster 20 2739.73x
Islington London 17 5.82x
Broadway 15 887.57x
Battersea 10 9.02x
Camberwell 9 4.67x
Hornsey 9 23.61x
Cow Honeybourne 8 2105.26x
Greenwich 8 16.67x
Sevenoaks 8 95.92x
St Pancras London 8 3.30x
Deptford St Paul 7 8.83x
Hackney London 7 4.14x
Oxford St Giles 7 78.83x
Weymouth 7 186.67x
East Hagbourn 6 1111.11x
Lingfield 6 209.79x
Wantage 6 166.21x
Welford 6 845.07x
Ardwick 5 15.50x
Cheltenham 5 10.96x
Heworth 5 28.30x
Hove 5 22.42x
Lee 5 33.49x
St Marylebone London 5 3.11x
Bethnal Green London 4 3.05x
Corfe Mullen 4 555.56x
Leigh 4 83.68x
Wellingborough 4 28.05x
West Ham 4 3.04x
Charlton Kings 3 73.35x
Chelsea London 3 3.30x
Dorchester Holy Trinity 3 187.50x
East West Hagbourn 3 394.74x
Lambeth 3 1.14x
Melcombe Regis 3 36.59x
Newhaven 3 72.64x
Preston 3 416.67x
South Shields 3 37.55x
Stony Stratford East 3 400.00x
Sundridge 3 175.44x
Tottenham 3 6.25x
Beddington 2 35.21x
Gillingham 2 9.43x
Holdenhurst 2 12.34x
Shilling Okeford 2 338.98x
St Andrew Holborn 2 19.57x
Aston 1 0.48x
Barton Upon Irwell 1 3.71x
Beer Hackett 1 1111.11x
Cerne Abbas 1 104.17x
Cheriton 1 23.87x
Claines 1 9.26x
Croydon 1 1.23x
Edenbridge 1 49.51x
Eye Dunsden 1 111.11x
Frimley 1 23.92x
Horton In Bradford 1 2.14x
Hulme 1 1.34x
Kensington London 1 0.60x
Kings Norton 1 2.83x
Laxfield 1 109.89x
Little Bolton 1 2.17x
Openshaw 1 5.97x
Paddington London 1 0.90x
Portsmouth 1 7.03x
Royal Navy 1 3.26x
Seaton Delaval 1 25.38x
Shaftesbury Holy Trinity 1 98.04x
Teddington London 1 14.64x
West Peckham 1 212.77x
Wimbledon 1 6.06x
Yeovil 1 10.14x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

FAQ

Shorey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Shorey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 308 people were recorded with the Shorey surname. That placed it at #9,542 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Shorey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 520 in 2016. That gives Shorey a modern rank of #9,720.

What does the Shorey surname mean?

Habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "steep bank" or "steep hill" in Old English.

What does the Shorey map show?

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