UK surname
Derived from a place name meaning "burnt clearing" or from a nickname meaning "lone" or "solitary."
In the 1881 census there were 25 people recorded with the Singley surname, ranking it #30,077 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1, ranked #39,061, down from #30,077 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Newick, Wivelsfield and Crawley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Singley is 123 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 96.0%.
1881 census count
25
Ranked #30,077
Modern count
1
2016, ranked #39,061
Peak year
1891
123 bearers
Map years
1
1891 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Singley surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Singley 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 | 16 | #30,441 |
| 1861 | historical | 55 | #27,007 |
| 1881 | historical | 25 | #30,077 |
| 1891 | historical | 123 | #20,939 |
| 1901 | historical | 34 | #30,281 |
| 1911 | historical | 32 | #29,838 |
| 1997 | modern | 1 | #38,839 |
| 2007 | modern | 1 | #38,907 |
| 2010 | modern | 1 | #39,020 |
| 2011 | modern | 1 | #39,015 |
| 2012 | modern | 1 | #38,986 |
| 2013 | modern | 1 | #39,008 |
| 2014 | modern | 2 | #38,791 |
| 2015 | modern | 2 | #38,793 |
| 2016 | modern | 1 | #39,061 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Newick, Wivelsfield, Crawley, St Giles Camberwell and Doveridge. 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 | Newick | Sussex |
| 2 | Wivelsfield | Sussex |
| 3 | Crawley | Sussex |
| 4 | St Giles Camberwell | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | Doveridge | Staffordshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Singley 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 Singley, 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 Singley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Singley 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, Singley 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 Singley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Singley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Singley has its origins in England, emerging in the late medieval period. It is likely derived from the Old English word "syngelice," which means "continually" or "perpetually." This suggests that the name may have originally been used as a descriptive nickname for someone who exhibited a particular characteristic or behavior that was seen as constant or enduring.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, which mention a Robert Syngelich. This early spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time.
In the 15th century, the name appeared in various records across the West Midlands region of England, including the Shropshire Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1472, where a ThomasSynggeley is listed.
The Singley surname is also linked to certain place names in England. For example, there is a hamlet called Singley in Shropshire, which may have influenced the spelling and distribution of the name in that area.
Notable individuals with the surname Singley include:
1. John Singley (c. 1600-1680), an English Puritan minister and author who served as a chaplain during the English Civil War. 2. William Singley (1728-1795), an American Revolutionary War soldier from Pennsylvania. 3. Benjamin Singley (1809-1889), an American inventor and businessman from Ohio, known for developing early agricultural machinery. 4. Elizabeth Singley (1870-1942), an American educator and suffragist from Maryland. 5. Joseph Singley (1891-1976), an American artist and painter from Pennsylvania, known for his landscapes and portraiture.
While the Singley surname is relatively uncommon, it has a rich history that spans centuries and continents, with origins rooted in the linguistic and cultural traditions of medieval England.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Singley 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. Sussex leads with 12 Singleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.07x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Sussex | 12 | 28.07x |
| Hampshire | 3 | 5.77x |
| Middlesex | 3 | 1.18x |
| Royal Navy | 2 | 66.23x |
| Suffolk | 2 | 6.47x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 1.79x |
| Kent | 1 | 1.16x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.33x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.81x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Crawley in Sussex leads with 11 Singleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 27500.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Crawley | 11 | 27500.00x |
| Clerkenwell London | 3 | 50.08x |
| Portsea | 3 | 29.44x |
| Bacton | 2 | 3333.33x |
| Royal Navy | 2 | 77.52x |
| Deal | 1 | 135.14x |
| Hastings St Mary | 1 | 94.34x |
| Monks Coppenhall | 1 | 47.39x |
| Nutfield | 1 | 1111.11x |
| Warrington | 1 | 28.01x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Singley 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 Singley 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 Singley households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| General Lab | 4 |
| Scholar | 3 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Bandm | 1 |
| Bandn | 1 |
| Daur & Housekeeper | 1 |
| Domestic Servant (Unemployed) | 1 |
| Domestic Servt Groom | 1 |
| General Serv | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Riveter (Boiler) | 1 |
| Scullery Maid | 1 |
| Serv Housekeeper | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 25 people were recorded with the Singley surname. That placed it at #30,077 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 1 in 2016. That gives Singley a modern rank of #39,061.
Derived from a place name meaning "burnt clearing" or from a nickname meaning "lone" or "solitary."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Singley 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.