NameCensus.

UK surname

Spensley

A habitational name derived from a place called Spensley in England.

In the 1881 census there were 211 people recorded with the Spensley surname, ranking it #12,407 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 409, ranked #11,694, up from #12,407 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Silkstone, Skipton and Auckland St Andrew. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Richmondshire, County Durham and Ribble Valley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Spensley is 443 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 93.8%.

1881 census count

211

Ranked #12,407

Modern count

409

2016, ranked #11,694

Peak year

2002

443 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Spensley had 211 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,407 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 409 in 2016, ranked #11,694.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 414 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Spensley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Spensley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Spensley 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 166 #11,986
1861 historical 182 #12,949
1881 historical 211 #12,407
1891 historical 278 #11,746
1901 historical 323 #11,065
1911 historical 414 #9,062
1997 modern 401 #10,989
1998 modern 438 #10,617
1999 modern 440 #10,648
2000 modern 437 #10,684
2001 modern 435 #10,526
2002 modern 443 #10,577
2003 modern 431 #10,653
2004 modern 432 #10,658
2005 modern 407 #11,041
2006 modern 408 #11,062
2007 modern 406 #11,249
2008 modern 411 #11,232
2009 modern 407 #11,556
2010 modern 411 #11,723
2011 modern 419 #11,422
2012 modern 406 #11,606
2013 modern 409 #11,714
2014 modern 414 #11,708
2015 modern 403 #11,835
2016 modern 409 #11,694

Geography

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Where Spensleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Silkstone, Skipton, Auckland St Andrew, Stranton and Bishop Wearmouth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Richmondshire, County Durham and Ribble Valley. 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 Silkstone Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Skipton Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Auckland St Andrew Durham
4 Stranton Durham
5 Bishop Wearmouth Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Richmondshire 005 Richmondshire
2 County Durham 058 County Durham
3 Richmondshire 006 Richmondshire
4 Ribble Valley 002 Ribble Valley
5 County Durham 061 County Durham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Spensley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Spensley

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Professional Periphery

Within London, Spensley is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Spensley is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Spensley

The surname Spensley is of English origin, originating in the northern counties of England during the late medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "spen," which means "cattle shed" or "shelter for livestock." The name likely referred to someone who lived near or worked at a cattle shed or farm.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379, where a Thomas Spenslay is listed. This suggests that variations of the spelling, such as Spenslay and Spenslie, were in use during that time. The name may also be related to places like Spensley, a small hamlet in Northumberland, or Spennithorne, a village in North Yorkshire.

In the 16th century, records show the name appearing in various forms, including Spenslie, Spenseley, and Spensley. One notable individual from this period was William Spensley, a merchant from York who lived from around 1530 to 1595. He was involved in the wool trade and is mentioned in several historical documents related to business transactions.

During the 17th century, the Spensley family seemed to have a presence in various parts of northern England. John Spensley, born in 1612 in Cumbria, was a noted scholar and clergyman who served as the Rector of Addingham in Yorkshire. He published several theological works during his lifetime.

In the 18th century, the name continued to be found in records from Yorkshire and surrounding areas. Thomas Spensley (1733-1804) was a prominent landowner and farmer in the village of Ripon, where his family had resided for generations.

Another notable figure was Elizabeth Spensley (1776-1861), a philanthropist from Yorkshire who dedicated her life to supporting various charitable causes, including the education of underprivileged children.

As the Industrial Revolution took hold in the 19th century, many Spensley families migrated from rural areas to urban centers in search of employment. One such individual was James Spensley (1845-1923), a successful businessman and industrialist who owned a textile mill in Bradford.

These are just a few examples of individuals who bore the surname Spensley throughout history, highlighting its deep roots in the northern counties of England and its potential connections to the agricultural and industrial heritage of the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Spensley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Spensley 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. Yorkshire leads with 109 Spensleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.34x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 109 5.34x
Durham 44 7.19x
Lancashire 23 0.94x
Cheshire 11 2.42x
Lincolnshire 7 2.13x
Surrey 6 0.60x
Nottinghamshire 5 1.80x
Derbyshire 2 0.62x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.77x
Kent 1 0.14x
Northumberland 1 0.33x
Sussex 1 0.29x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Melbecks in Yorkshire leads with 15 Spensleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1829.27x.

Place Total Index
Melbecks 15 1829.27x
Thurgoland 12 869.57x
Rilston 9 10000.00x
Shildon 8 162.60x
West Derby 8 11.20x
Kirkdale 7 17.04x
Langriville 7 3043.48x
Sunderland 7 64.75x
Alfold 6 1578.95x
Bishopwearmouth 6 11.42x
Burton Cum Walden 6 1935.48x
Cockfield 6 705.88x
Darlington 5 21.15x
Gorton 5 21.78x
Great Budworth 5 617.28x
Grinton 5 1851.85x
Middlesbrough 5 18.83x
Nether Alderley 5 1250.00x
Skelton In Guisbrough 5 90.58x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 4 57.31x
Gateshead 4 8.73x
Hoyland Nether 4 80.00x
North Bierley 4 36.33x
Reeth 4 800.00x
Skipton 4 62.31x
Wensley 4 1739.13x
Barningham 3 1666.67x
Bulwell 3 49.75x
Castle Eden 3 483.87x
Harmby 3 2307.69x
Leyburn 3 434.78x
North Bedburn 3 175.44x
Reeth Healaugh 3 1500.00x
Richmond 3 94.04x
Carperby Cum Thoresby 2 952.38x
Chesterfield 2 16.56x
Dodworth 2 94.34x
Guisbrough 2 44.84x
Hucknall Torkard 2 28.45x
Wuerdle Wardle 2 26.99x
Wyke In Bradford 2 54.79x
Agden In Altrincham 1 1428.57x
Bank Newton 1 1428.57x
Broadwater 1 12.56x
Ebberston 1 238.10x
Elswick 1 4.09x
Gillingham 1 6.91x
Holy Trinity 1 2.04x
Long Newton 1 500.00x
Sculcoates 1 3.09x
St Andrewthe Less 1 6.72x
Thornley 1 45.05x
Thornton Steward 1 555.56x
Warrington 1 3.45x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 18
Elizabeth 12
Sarah 9
Ann 6
Hannah 6
Alice 5
Annie 5
Jane 5
Margaret 5
Eleanor 3
Eliza 3
Martha 3
Caroline 2
Charlotte 2
Isabella 2
Margret 2
Margt. 2
Ruth 2
Anne 1
Betty 1
Dorathey 1
Emily 1
Esther 1
Grace 1
Henrietta 1
J. 1
Judith 1
Lavinia 1
Lilley 1
Louisa 1
Luy 1
M. 1
Margt.Alice 1
Nelly 1
Rosamond 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 20
James 12
George 10
William 9
Thomas 6
Robert 4
Simon 4
Christopher 3
Robt. 3
Walter 3
Carter 2
Samuel 2
W. 2
Wm. 2
Albert 1
David 1
Edward 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
G. 1
H. 1
Harrison 1
Howard 1
Joseph 1
Metcalfe 1
R. 1
Ralph 1
Richard 1
Rob.M. 1
Robson 1
Septimus 1
Victor 1
W.R. 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Spensley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Spensley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 211 people were recorded with the Spensley surname. That placed it at #12,407 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Spensley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 409 in 2016. That gives Spensley a modern rank of #11,694.

What does the Spensley surname mean?

A habitational name derived from a place called Spensley in England.

What does the Spensley map show?

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