NameCensus.

UK surname

Sisley

A habitational surname derived from the French village of Cissey.

In the 1881 census there were 265 people recorded with the Sisley surname, ranking it #10,612 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 183, ranked #20,813, down from #10,612 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Willesden, London parishes and Dover St James, Dover St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bradford, Maidstone and Shepway.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sisley is 300 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 30.9%.

1881 census count

265

Ranked #10,612

Modern count

183

2016, ranked #20,813

Peak year

1911

300 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sisley had 265 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,612 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 183 in 2016, ranked #20,813.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 300 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Sisley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sisley surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Sisley 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 180 #11,300
1861 historical 164 #14,188
1881 historical 265 #10,612
1891 historical 266 #12,169
1901 historical 277 #12,281
1911 historical 300 #11,441
1997 modern 235 #15,895
1998 modern 244 #15,947
1999 modern 232 #16,594
2000 modern 221 #17,089
2001 modern 213 #17,267
2002 modern 242 #16,186
2003 modern 223 #16,905
2004 modern 209 #17,706
2005 modern 210 #17,572
2006 modern 209 #17,784
2007 modern 202 #18,359
2008 modern 192 #19,143
2009 modern 192 #19,527
2010 modern 190 #20,087
2011 modern 194 #19,662
2012 modern 181 #20,531
2013 modern 192 #20,067
2014 modern 181 #21,033
2015 modern 177 #21,220
2016 modern 183 #20,813

Geography

Back to top

Where Sisleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Willesden, London parishes, Dover St James, Dover St Mary, Caple, Tudeley, Pembury and Maidstone, Linton, Loddington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bradford, Maidstone, Shepway, Brentwood and Ashford. 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 Willesden Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 London parishes London 3
3 Dover St James, Dover St Mary Kent
4 Caple, Tudeley, Pembury Kent
5 Maidstone, Linton, Loddington Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bradford 023 Bradford
2 Maidstone 012 Maidstone
3 Shepway 012 Shepway
4 Brentwood 001 Brentwood
5 Ashford 012 Ashford

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Sisley

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Sisley

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Sisley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Sisley household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Sisley is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Sisley is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Sisley falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Sisley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Sisley

The surname Sisley originates from France, dating back to the early 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "ciselay," meaning "carved or engraved," suggesting that the name may have been initially associated with individuals involved in carving or engraving professions.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the regions of Burgundy and Franche-Comté in eastern France. In the 13th century, records mention a certain Pierre de Sisley who was a landowner in the village of Sisley, located in the present-day department of Haute-Saône.

During the Middle Ages, the name Sisley was often associated with noble families and landowners. One notable figure was Jean de Sisley, a knight who participated in the Hundred Years' War between England and France during the 14th century.

In the 16th century, the Sisley family gained prominence in the city of Lyon, where they were involved in the silk trade. Claude Sisley (1520-1578) was a renowned silk merchant and supplier to the French court.

The name Sisley also has a connection to the art world. Alfred Sisley (1839-1899) was a renowned English Impressionist landscape painter who spent most of his life in France. He is known for his depictions of the French countryside, particularly along the rivers and canals of the Île-de-France region.

Another notable figure was Pierre Sisley (1900-1980), a French painter and sculptor who was heavily influenced by Cubism and Fauvism. He was part of the Montparnasse art scene in Paris during the early 20th century.

In the realm of literature, Roger Sisley (1918-2004) was a French writer and poet, best known for his works exploring the themes of love, nature, and the human condition.

The surname Sisley has also been present in the world of sports. Jean Sisley (1926-2011) was a French racing driver who competed in several 24 Hours of Le Mans races during the 1950s and 1960s.

While the name Sisley may have evolved and spread to other parts of the world over time, its roots can be traced back to the historic regions of eastern France, where it was associated with various professions, from landowners and artisans to artists and writers.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Sisley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sisley 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. Kent leads with 141 Sisleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.93x.

County Total Index
Kent 141 15.93x
Middlesex 47 1.81x
Sussex 39 8.91x
Cornwall 14 4.77x
Surrey 10 0.79x
Durham 7 0.91x
Essex 2 0.39x
Northamptonshire 2 0.82x
Hampshire 1 0.19x
Lancashire 1 0.03x
Norfolk 1 0.25x
Royal Navy 1 3.23x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Maidstone in Kent leads with 31 Sisleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 117.56x.

Place Total Index
Maidstone 31 117.56x
Staplehurst 24 1655.17x
Hampstead London 14 34.64x
St Ives 14 243.48x
Margate St John Baptist 13 80.20x
Hastings St Clement 9 218.45x
Lydd 9 473.68x
St Anne Soho London 9 60.73x
Woolwich 9 27.51x
Tonbridge 8 25.05x
Willesden 8 32.71x
Eastbourne 7 34.77x
Lewisham 7 14.83x
Minster In Sheppey 7 47.72x
Plumstead 7 23.72x
Southwick 7 303.03x
St Luke London 7 16.82x
Islington London 6 2.39x
Pembury 6 476.19x
Weybridge 6 221.40x
Brighton 5 5.67x
Monkwearmouth Shore 5 33.18x
Godalming 4 50.25x
Ramsgate 4 27.68x
Speldhurst 4 88.69x
Chatham 3 12.32x
Dover St Mary Virgin 3 35.01x
Hove 3 15.63x
Hastings All Sts 2 48.54x
Northampton St Giles 2 21.51x
Portslade 2 74.91x
Shoreditch London 2 1.78x
Ticehurst 2 74.63x
Dunkirk 1 151.52x
Great Yarmouth 1 3.03x
Hastings St Mary In The 1 10.72x
Hougham 1 19.01x
Hunwick Helmington 1 54.05x
Hurstpierpoint 1 41.15x
Leyton 1 11.34x
Linton 1 128.21x
Marden 1 48.08x
Otham 1 303.03x
Portsmouth 1 8.16x
Royal Navy 1 3.78x
Sittingbourne 1 14.31x
St Pancras London 1 0.48x
Sunderland 1 7.34x
Toxteth Park 1 0.96x
West Ham 1 0.88x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 16
Elizabeth 10
Harriet 7
Jane 7
Alice 6
Annie 6
Ellen 6
Ann 5
Eliza 5
Emma 4
Margaret 4
Sophia 3
Ada 2
Caroline 2
Charlotte 2
Florence 2
Frances 2
Grace 2
Kate 2
Maria 2
Minnie 2
Rose 2
Agnes 1
Anna 1
Barbara 1
Beatrice 1
Blanch 1
Catherine 1
Deelia 1
Dorothea 1
Edith 1
Elizh. 1
Emily 1
Ethel 1
Fanny 1
Flora 1
Georgina 1
Hannah 1
Isabella 1
Jessie 1
Laura 1
Lilian 1
Lydia 1
Mabel 1
Mahlath 1
Margery 1
Martha 1
Mathas. 1
Matilda 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 17
George 12
John 12
James 9
Thomas 7
Charles 6
Albert 4
Alfred 4
Arthur 4
Edward 4
Henry 4
Robert 4
Walter 4
Samuel 3
Stephen 3
Edwin 2
Harry 2
Numa 2
A.Herbert 1
Abel 1
Baby 1
Benjamin 1
Bruce 1
Ernest 1
F. 1
Francis 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Hugh 1
J. 1
Jesse 1
Jones 1
Lewis 1
Percy 1
R. 1
Richard 1
Sidney 1
Siveyer 1
Stanley 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Sisley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sisley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 265 people were recorded with the Sisley surname. That placed it at #10,612 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sisley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 183 in 2016. That gives Sisley a modern rank of #20,813.

What does the Sisley surname mean?

A habitational surname derived from the French village of Cissey.

What does the Sisley map show?

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