NameCensus.

UK surname

Solly

A surname derived from the medieval French term "soillier" meaning a sty keeper or pig farmer.

In the 1881 census there were 541 people recorded with the Solly surname, ranking it #6,379 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 748, ranked #7,310, down from #6,379 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, London parishes and Margate. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Thanet.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Solly is 813 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 38.3%.

1881 census count

541

Ranked #6,379

Modern count

748

2016, ranked #7,310

Peak year

1911

813 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Solly had 541 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,379 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 748 in 2016, ranked #7,310.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 813 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Solly surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Solly surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Solly 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 405 #5,976
1861 historical 439 #5,872
1881 historical 541 #6,379
1891 historical 498 #7,454
1901 historical 717 #6,159
1911 historical 813 #5,413
1997 modern 794 #6,573
1998 modern 811 #6,680
1999 modern 805 #6,754
2000 modern 786 #6,873
2001 modern 776 #6,807
2002 modern 808 #6,722
2003 modern 761 #6,927
2004 modern 752 #7,005
2005 modern 730 #7,100
2006 modern 725 #7,170
2007 modern 746 #7,085
2008 modern 748 #7,122
2009 modern 744 #7,297
2010 modern 781 #7,160
2011 modern 765 #7,191
2012 modern 749 #7,236
2013 modern 753 #7,318
2014 modern 752 #7,361
2015 modern 753 #7,283
2016 modern 748 #7,310

Geography

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Where Sollys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, London parishes, Margate, St Lawrence in Thanet and Ramsgate. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Thanet. 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 Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew Sussex
2 London parishes London 3
3 Margate Kent
4 St Lawrence in Thanet Kent
5 Ramsgate Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Thanet 013 Thanet
2 Thanet 003 Thanet
3 Thanet 001 Thanet
4 Thanet 011 Thanet
5 Thanet 016 Thanet

Forenames

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First names often paired with Solly

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Solly

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Solly, 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 Solly surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Solly 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Solly 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

Solly is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Solly 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 Solly 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 Solly, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Solly

The surname Solly has its origins in early medieval England, specifically in the county of Sussex. It is derived from the Old English word "sol," meaning "muddy" or "marshy," suggesting that the name likely referred to someone who lived in a marshy or muddy area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Solly appears in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landowners and their estates compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. The entry mentions a person named "Sollius" holding land in the village of Hove, near present-day Brighton.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, various spellings of the name emerged, including Solle, Solly, and Sully. These variations likely arose due to regional dialects and the inconsistent spelling practices of the time. The name was particularly prevalent in the coastal regions of Sussex and Kent, where marshy landscapes were common.

One notable individual bearing the Solly surname was Sir Henry Solly (1653-1726), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Sussex. He served as a Member of Parliament for Lewes from 1695 to 1698 and played a significant role in the local politics and economy of the region.

Another historically significant figure was Edward Solly (1819-1886), a British chemist and scientist. Born in Berlin, he made important contributions to the study of organic chemistry and was a Fellow of the Royal Society.

In the realm of literature, the name Solly is associated with Edward Solly (1805-1886), an English writer and historian. He authored several works on the history and antiquities of Sussex, including "The Antient Castellated Mansions of the County of Sussex" (1845).

The name Solly also has connections to the world of art. Samuel Solly (1805-1871) was a British portrait painter and a member of the Royal Academy. His works are held in various collections, including the National Portrait Gallery in London.

A more recent figure was Arthur Solly (1881-1964), a British architect and designer. He was known for his work on several notable buildings in London, including the Corn Exchange in Islington and the Dorchester Hotel.

While the surname Solly is not among the most common in England, it has a rich history that spans centuries and encompasses individuals from various walks of life, from landowners and politicians to scientists, writers, artists, and architects.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Solly families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Solly 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 317 Sollys recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.61x.

County Total Index
Kent 317 17.61x
Surrey 56 2.18x
Middlesex 29 0.55x
Essex 23 2.21x
Sussex 20 2.25x
Lancashire 16 0.26x
Norfolk 12 1.48x
Cheshire 10 0.86x
Kirkcudbrightshire 7 9.16x
Glamorgan 6 0.65x
Cambridgeshire 5 1.50x
Durham 5 0.32x
Gloucestershire 5 0.48x
Hampshire 5 0.46x
Bedfordshire 3 1.10x
Lanarkshire 3 0.18x
Staffordshire 3 0.17x
Cumberland 2 0.44x
Devon 2 0.18x
Monmouthshire 2 0.52x
Oxfordshire 2 0.61x
Warwickshire 2 0.15x
Yorkshire 2 0.04x
Hertfordshire 1 0.27x
Royal Navy 1 1.59x
Suffolk 1 0.16x
Worcestershire 1 0.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Margate St John Baptist in Kent leads with 66 Sollys recorded in 1881 and an index of 200.18x.

Place Total Index
Margate St John Baptist 66 200.18x
Ramsgate 57 193.94x
Lambeth 18 3.91x
St Lawrence 17 137.32x
Deal 14 91.15x
Maidstone 14 26.10x
Brighton 12 6.69x
Canterbury St Mary 10 82.78x
Congleton 9 44.71x
Rotherhithe 9 13.80x
Croydon 8 5.61x
East Harling 8 414.51x
Hougham 8 74.70x
Kirkdale 8 7.59x
Mayland 8 1777.78x
Sandwich St Clement 8 526.32x
Ash Next Sandwich 7 175.88x
Bermondsey 7 4.46x
Canterbury St Alphage 7 364.58x
Dover St Mary Virgin 7 40.16x
Forest Gate 7 486.11x
Goodnestone In Eastry 7 958.90x
Kelton 7 111.47x
River 7 614.04x
Deptford St Paul 6 4.32x
Dover St James 6 76.05x
Harbledown 6 461.54x
Merthyr Tydfil 6 6.79x
Monkton 6 895.52x
Ratcliffe London 6 20.59x
Bishopwearmouth 5 3.71x
Canterbury All Sts 5 769.23x
Canterbury St Mildred 5 117.10x
Hastings Holy Trinity 5 76.22x
Horfield 5 47.98x
Islington London 5 0.98x
Portsea 5 2.36x
St Andrewthe Less 5 13.09x
Sutton 5 26.88x
Boughton Under Blean 4 132.89x
Canterbury Holy Cross 4 229.89x
Guston 4 555.56x
Lancaster 4 10.74x
Norwich St John Sepulchre 4 75.90x
Penge 4 11.87x
St Marylebone London 4 1.42x
Whitstable 4 45.30x
Wootton 4 1428.57x
Ashford 3 17.11x
Bedford St John 3 731.71x
Canterbury St George 3 138.89x
Govan 3 0.71x
St Luke London 3 3.54x
Bloxham 2 62.50x
Bromley 2 7.29x
Camberwell 2 0.59x
Chartham 2 44.54x
Chigwell 2 20.35x
Chislehurst 2 20.70x
Ellenborough Ewanrigg 2 63.49x
Folkestone 2 5.73x
Hackington St Stephen 2 173.91x
Herne 2 25.09x
Holy Trinity 2 1.59x
Kensington London 2 0.68x
Lenham 2 55.71x
Murston 2 125.79x
Panteg 2 33.28x
St George Hanover 2 2.90x
Teynham 2 61.54x
Tipton 2 3.67x
Towerof London London 2 119.05x
Toxteth Park 2 0.94x
Westminster St James 2 3.69x
Wingham 2 96.15x
Charlton 1 8.36x
Ewell Lydden 1 71.43x
Hastings St Mary In The 1 5.27x
Liverpool 1 0.26x
Newhaven 1 13.83x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 34
George 24
John 17
Henry 16
James 14
Frederick 13
Charles 12
Edward 12
Alfred 10
Thomas 9
Robert 8
Herbert 7
Arthur 6
Richard 6
Albert 5
Stephen 5
Percy 3
Ernest 2
Fredk. 2
Harry 2
Michael 2
Walter 2
Willm. 2
Claude 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Edmund 1
Edwd. 1
Edwd.H. 1
Evan 1
Frank 1
Fred.B. 1
Freddie 1
Geo.H. 1
Gerald 1
Godfrey 1
Gordon 1
Harrold 1
Hervy 1
Hrold 1
Isaac 1
Leonard 1
Lewis 1
Mary 1
Reginald 1
Sidney 1
Stanley 1
Sydney 1
Thos. 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Solly surname: questions and answers

How common was the Solly surname in 1881?

In 1881, 541 people were recorded with the Solly surname. That placed it at #6,379 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Solly surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 748 in 2016. That gives Solly a modern rank of #7,310.

What does the Solly surname mean?

A surname derived from the medieval French term "soillier" meaning a sty keeper or pig farmer.

What does the Solly map show?

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