NameCensus.

UK surname

Sloley

A variant spelling of the English locative surname derived from a place name meaning "sloppy, muddy", referring to a resident of that area.

In the 1881 census there were 67 people recorded with the Sloley surname, ranking it #24,104 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 91, ranked #32,109, down from #24,104 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Fremington, Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kensington and Chelsea, Cornwall and West Devon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sloley is 104 in 2003. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 35.8%.

1881 census count

67

Ranked #24,104

Modern count

91

2016, ranked #32,109

Peak year

2003

104 bearers

Map years

1

1901 to 1901

Key insights

  • Sloley had 67 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #24,104 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 91 in 2016, ranked #32,109.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 103 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Sloley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sloley surname density by area, 1901 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Sloley 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 73 #20,581
1861 historical 67 #25,342
1881 historical 67 #24,104
1891 historical 86 #25,951
1901 historical 103 #22,444
1911 historical 83 #24,531
1997 modern 87 #28,749
1998 modern 97 #28,054
1999 modern 98 #28,050
2000 modern 96 #28,299
2001 modern 91 #28,670
2002 modern 97 #28,383
2003 modern 104 #27,101
2004 modern 97 #28,455
2005 modern 94 #28,973
2006 modern 91 #29,725
2007 modern 91 #30,061
2008 modern 94 #29,950
2009 modern 95 #30,393
2010 modern 90 #31,621
2011 modern 97 #30,552
2012 modern 102 #29,902
2013 modern 101 #30,591
2014 modern 98 #31,370
2015 modern 93 #31,972
2016 modern 91 #32,109

Geography

Back to top

Where Sloleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Fremington, Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton, London parishes, Berryn Arbor and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kensington and Chelsea, Cornwall, West Devon, Hounslow and Isle of Wight. 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 Fremington Devon
2 Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton Devon
3 London parishes London 3
4 Berryn Arbor Devon
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kensington and Chelsea 016 Kensington and Chelsea
2 Cornwall 058 Cornwall
3 West Devon 005 West Devon
4 Hounslow 003 Hounslow
5 Isle of Wight 010 Isle of Wight

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Sloley

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Sloley

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Sloley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Sloley household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Sloley 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

Sloley 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

Sloley 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 Sloley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Sloley

The surname SLOLEY is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period in the 13th and 14th centuries. It is believed to have originated from a place name, possibly a locational surname derived from Sloley, a hamlet situated in the county of Norfolk, England. The name itself may have evolved from the Old English words "slo" meaning "muddy" and "leah" meaning "woodland clearing," suggesting it once referred to a settlement or dwelling in a muddy woodland area.

Early records show variations in the spelling of the name, such as Sloleye, Slolee, and Sloly, reflecting the inconsistencies in written English during that time. One of the earliest documented instances of the surname can be found in the tax rolls of Norfolk from the late 13th century, where a certain Walter de Sloleye is mentioned.

The SLOLEY name appears to have been concentrated primarily in the Norfolk region throughout the medieval and early modern periods. In the 16th century, the Sloley family held lands and properties in the village of Bawburgh, near Norwich, as evidenced by mentions in local parish records and land deeds.

Notable individuals bearing the SLOLEY surname include Sir Robert Sloley (1588-1659), a prominent Norfolk landowner and member of the English gentry who served as a Member of Parliament during the reign of King Charles I. Another historically significant figure was Reverend John Sloley (1634-1702), a Church of England clergyman who served as the Rector of Blickling in Norfolk for over four decades.

In the 18th century, the SLOLEY name is recorded in connection with the village of Stratton Strawless in Norfolk, where a family of that name owned a substantial estate. One notable member was William Sloley (1712-1788), a wealthy landowner and farmer who was active in local affairs and served as a magistrate.

During the 19th century, the SLOLEY surname spread beyond Norfolk to other parts of England, though it remained relatively uncommon. One prominent bearer was Sir John Sloley (1828-1901), a successful businessman and philanthropist from Derbyshire who made his fortune in the textile industry and was knighted for his charitable works.

While not an exhaustive list, these examples illustrate the enduring presence of the SLOLEY surname throughout English history, with its origins rooted in the medieval Norfolk countryside and a legacy spanning various walks of life, from landowners and clergymen to industrialists and public figures.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Sloley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sloley 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. Devon leads with 47 Sloleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.55x.

County Total Index
Devon 47 34.55x
Middlesex 7 1.07x
Kent 5 2.24x
Gloucestershire 3 2.34x
Lancashire 2 0.26x
Oxfordshire 2 4.96x
Surrey 1 0.31x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Martinhoe in Devon leads with 12 Sloleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 30000.00x.

Place Total Index
Martinhoe 12 30000.00x
Fremington 11 3928.57x
Brendon 10 16666.67x
Hollingbourn 5 1923.08x
Ilfracombe 4 285.71x
Mile End Old Town 4 38.76x
Bristol St Stephen 3 909.09x
Great Torrington 2 259.74x
Harrow On The Hill 2 152.67x
Landkey 2 1538.46x
Lynton 2 740.74x
Oxford All Sts 2 2222.22x
West Down 2 1666.67x
Gorton 1 13.72x
Guildford St Nicholas 1 178.57x
Northmolton 1 1250.00x
St Pancras London 1 1.90x
Swimbridge 1 370.37x
Ulverston 1 44.25x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 4
Robert 4
William 3
Charles 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
George 1
Laurence 1
Moses 1
Octavius 1
Samuel 1
Walter 1
Willm.Hry. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Sloley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sloley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 67 people were recorded with the Sloley surname. That placed it at #24,104 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sloley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 91 in 2016. That gives Sloley a modern rank of #32,109.

What does the Sloley surname mean?

A variant spelling of the English locative surname derived from a place name meaning "sloppy, muddy", referring to a resident of that area.

What does the Sloley map show?

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