NameCensus.

UK surname

Staley

An English occupational surname referring to someone who worked in or lived near a stable or stall.

In the 1881 census there were 982 people recorded with the Staley surname, ranking it #3,961 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,533, ranked #4,036, down from #3,961 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Manchester and Stapenhill. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Derbyshire and Eden.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Staley is 1,667 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 56.1%.

1881 census count

982

Ranked #3,961

Modern count

1,533

2016, ranked #4,036

Peak year

1999

1,667 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Staley had 982 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,961 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,533 in 2016, ranked #4,036.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,458 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Staley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Staley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Staley 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 702 #3,715
1861 historical 726 #3,748
1881 historical 982 #3,961
1891 historical 1,200 #3,569
1901 historical 1,262 #3,922
1911 historical 1,458 #3,308
1997 modern 1,550 #3,808
1998 modern 1,629 #3,775
1999 modern 1,667 #3,726
2000 modern 1,644 #3,753
2001 modern 1,624 #3,721
2002 modern 1,656 #3,724
2003 modern 1,623 #3,718
2004 modern 1,613 #3,751
2005 modern 1,553 #3,835
2006 modern 1,533 #3,883
2007 modern 1,538 #3,902
2008 modern 1,566 #3,867
2009 modern 1,586 #3,908
2010 modern 1,607 #3,942
2011 modern 1,561 #4,004
2012 modern 1,556 #3,942
2013 modern 1,576 #3,968
2014 modern 1,563 #4,018
2015 modern 1,545 #4,014
2016 modern 1,533 #4,036

Geography

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Where Staleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Manchester, Stapenhill, Church Gresley and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Derbyshire and Eden. 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 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Stapenhill Staffordshire
4 Church Gresley Staffordshire
5 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Derbyshire 008 South Derbyshire
2 South Derbyshire 007 South Derbyshire
3 South Derbyshire 009 South Derbyshire
4 South Derbyshire 013 South Derbyshire
5 Eden 007 Eden

Forenames

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First names often paired with Staley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Staley

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

Staley 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

Staley falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Staley 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 Staley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Staley

The surname Staley is of English origin and dates back to the medieval era. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "stæli" or "stali," which translates to "a stallion" or "a stout, strong person." This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a nickname to someone of a robust or hardy nature.

Staley is also thought to be a locational name, derived from places in England called Staveley or Stayley. These place names stem from the Old English words "stæf" meaning "staff" or "stave," and "leah" meaning "a meadow" or "a clearing." Thus, the name could have originated from someone who resided in such a location.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Staley can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Staueleia" and "Stavelei." This was a survey of land ownership and taxation commissioned by William the Conqueror after the Norman conquest of England in 1066.

In the 13th century, the name was documented as "Staveley" in the Pipe Rolls of Derbyshire, which were records of financial transactions related to taxes and rents paid to the Crown.

Notable individuals with the surname Staley throughout history include:

1. Robert Staley (c. 1395-1460), an English landowner and Member of Parliament for Nottinghamshire in 1447. 2. John Staley (c. 1590-1657), an English clergyman and controversialist known for his writings against Puritan theology. 3. William Staley (1809-1867), an English industrialist and founder of the Staley Ironworks in Staffordshire. 4. Walter Staley (1859-1933), an American politician who served as the Mayor of Los Angeles from 1897 to 1899. 5. Edmund Staley (1867-1944), an English artist and illustrator known for his depictions of rural life and landscapes.

The name Staley has also been associated with various place names, such as Staveley in Derbyshire, Stayley in Cheshire, and Staveley in Cumbria, all of which trace their origins to the Old English words mentioned earlier.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Staley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Staley 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. Derbyshire leads with 404 Staleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.97x.

County Total Index
Derbyshire 404 26.97x
Lancashire 113 1.00x
Yorkshire 88 0.93x
Staffordshire 66 2.04x
Middlesex 32 0.33x
Gloucestershire 31 1.65x
Cheshire 29 1.37x
Durham 25 0.88x
Kent 17 0.52x
Hampshire 15 0.76x
Leicestershire 15 1.41x
Warwickshire 15 0.62x
Nottinghamshire 14 1.09x
Buckinghamshire 13 2.25x
Surrey 13 0.28x
Herefordshire 12 3.06x
Essex 11 0.58x
Shropshire 11 1.33x
Wiltshire 10 1.18x
Oxfordshire 9 1.52x
Berkshire 7 0.97x
Radnorshire 7 9.07x
Northamptonshire 6 0.67x
Devon 5 0.25x
Flintshire 4 1.56x
Monmouthshire 3 0.43x
Sussex 2 0.12x
Worcestershire 2 0.16x
Fife 1 0.18x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.53x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stapenhill in Derbyshire leads with 124 Staleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 556.05x.

Place Total Index
Stapenhill 124 556.05x
Stanton Newhall 84 1750.00x
Church Gresley 42 176.17x
Sheffield 30 9.94x
Thornbury 29 226.03x
Hartshorn 24 424.03x
Ripley 22 118.79x
Elton 21 1242.60x
Hulme 21 8.86x
Burton Upon Trent 18 23.82x
Oldham 17 4.64x
Ecclesall Bierlow 15 7.78x
Stoke Upon Trent 14 4.09x
Hillesden 13 1805.56x
Portsea 13 3.38x
Stockport 12 11.04x
Limehouse London 11 10.47x
Ashby De La Zouch 10 40.67x
Leintwardine 10 781.25x
Purton 10 132.80x
Baslow With Bubnell 9 326.09x
Bradford 9 16.93x
Greenwich 9 5.91x
Nether Hallam 9 7.01x
Tansley 9 405.41x
Derby St Alkmund 8 17.82x
Forest Frith 8 321.29x
Holywell 8 288.81x
Leeds 8 1.49x
Stone 8 19.36x
Bucknell 7 299.15x
Normanton 7 55.34x
Upper Hallam 7 84.95x
West Ham 7 1.68x
Deptford St Paul 6 2.38x
Little Chester 6 319.15x
Long Compton 6 262.01x
Manchester 6 1.18x
Newbold Astbury 6 238.10x
North Collingham 6 197.37x
Rusholme 6 19.81x
Salford 6 1.80x
Thorpe 6 1132.08x
Atherton 5 12.10x
Biddulph 5 27.43x
Chorlton On Medlock 5 2.77x
Coundon Grange 5 80.00x
Hurst 5 53.19x
Middleton By Wirksworth 5 316.46x
Wellingborough 5 11.05x
Worsley 5 7.14x
Youlgreave 5 115.47x
Aston Cum Aughton 4 51.55x
Bedworth 4 22.71x
Beverley St Mary 4 28.88x
Brightside Bierlow 4 2.15x
Chapel En Le Frith 4 29.24x
Church Stretton 4 72.07x
Croxall 4 588.24x
Haswell 4 19.61x
Ilfracombe 4 19.50x
Middletonby Wirksworth 4 272.11x
Poplar London 4 2.21x
Redworth 4 219.78x
St Botolph Aldgate 4 30.63x
Stranton 4 4.17x
Tipton 4 4.04x
Walthamstow 4 5.88x
Westleigh 4 15.51x
Wigan 4 2.52x
Winster 4 145.99x
Wolverhampton 4 1.61x
Bagworth 3 151.52x
Caverswall 3 17.87x
Clerkenwell London 3 1.33x
Heaton Norris 3 4.64x
Holywell 3 9.29x
Torworth 3 410.96x
Walton On Trent 3 206.90x
Withington 3 8.20x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 65
Elizabeth 51
Sarah 37
Emma 23
Ann 22
Ellen 19
Annie 18
Jane 18
Fanny 13
Clara 12
Edith 11
Emily 11
Hannah 11
Martha 11
Eliza 10
Harriet 10
Catherine 9
Frances 9
Maria 8
Alice 7
Florence 6
Agnes 5
Harriett 5
Lucy 5
Margaret 4
Rosa 4
Selina 4
Charlotte 3
E. 3
Kate 3
Louisa 3
Rebecca 3
Ruth 3
Susan 3
Susanna 3
Susannah 3
Ada 2
Anastasia 2
Anne 2
Beatrice 2
Betsy 2
Caroline 2
Leah 2
Priscilla 2
Rose 2
Susanah 2
Violet 2
Betsey 1
Edy 1
Elinor 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Staley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Staley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 982 people were recorded with the Staley surname. That placed it at #3,961 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Staley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,533 in 2016. That gives Staley a modern rank of #4,036.

What does the Staley surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to someone who worked in or lived near a stable or stall.

What does the Staley map show?

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