NameCensus.

UK surname

Stalley

An English surname derived from a place name, possibly referring to a person from Stalley, West Yorkshire.

In the 1881 census there were 228 people recorded with the Stalley surname, ranking it #11,826 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 468, ranked #10,507, up from #11,826 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wimbish with Thunderley, London parishes and Thaxted. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Uttlesford, Bournemouth and South Kesteven.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Stalley is 476 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 105.3%.

1881 census count

228

Ranked #11,826

Modern count

468

2016, ranked #10,507

Peak year

2010

476 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Stalley had 228 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,826 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 468 in 2016, ranked #10,507.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 373 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Stalley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Stalley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Stalley 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 104 #16,746
1861 historical 137 #16,465
1881 historical 228 #11,826
1891 historical 285 #11,515
1901 historical 310 #11,393
1911 historical 373 #9,787
1997 modern 428 #10,451
1998 modern 455 #10,315
1999 modern 455 #10,364
2000 modern 457 #10,300
2001 modern 442 #10,388
2002 modern 456 #10,336
2003 modern 448 #10,325
2004 modern 452 #10,270
2005 modern 454 #10,144
2006 modern 443 #10,369
2007 modern 445 #10,428
2008 modern 455 #10,319
2009 modern 470 #10,324
2010 modern 476 #10,434
2011 modern 468 #10,460
2012 modern 452 #10,619
2013 modern 464 #10,589
2014 modern 472 #10,525
2015 modern 468 #10,518
2016 modern 468 #10,507

Geography

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Where Stalleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wimbish with Thunderley, London parishes, Thaxted, Fulbourn and Cambridge: St Andrew the Less, St Andrew the Great, Holy Trinity, St Benedict. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Uttlesford, Bournemouth, South Kesteven, Ipswich and Suffolk Coastal. 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 Wimbish with Thunderley Essex
2 London parishes London 3
3 Thaxted Essex
4 Fulbourn Cambridgeshire
5 Cambridge: St Andrew the Less, St Andrew the Great, Holy Trinity, St Benedict Cambridgeshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Uttlesford 004 Uttlesford
2 Bournemouth 012 Bournemouth
3 South Kesteven 009 South Kesteven
4 Ipswich 007 Ipswich
5 Suffolk Coastal 007 Suffolk Coastal

Forenames

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First names often paired with Stalley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Stalley

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Stalley is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Stalley is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Stalley

The surname STALLEY is of English origin and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "stalian," which means "to stalk" or "to walk stealthily." The name was likely given to someone who was known for their hunting or tracking skills.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where a Robert Stalley is mentioned as a resident of Nottinghamshire. The name also appears in various tax records and court documents from the 14th and 15th centuries, often spelled as "Stalley" or "Stallie."

The STALLEY surname is strongly associated with the county of Nottinghamshire, particularly in the areas around Mansfield and Worksop. It is believed that the name may have originated from a place name or a descriptive phrase referring to a specific location or settlement.

During the 16th century, a notable figure named John Stalley (1515-1585) was a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of London. He was involved in the lucrative wool trade and served as the Master of the Worshipful Company of Drapers.

In the 17th century, Thomas Stalley (1620-1687) was a Presbyterian minister and theologian who played a significant role in the religious debates of the time. He was known for his writings on the doctrine of predestination and his opposition to the Church of England's policies.

The 18th century saw the birth of William Stalley (1738-1817), a distinguished architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Opera House and the Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields.

In the 19th century, Edward Stalley (1845-1912) was a prominent Irish architect who designed many iconic buildings in Dublin, such as the National Museum of Ireland and the Shelbourne Hotel.

Another notable figure was Sir John Stalley (1880-1956), a British diplomat and civil servant who served as the Governor of the Straits Settlements (now Singapore and Malaysia) from 1934 to 1942.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Stalley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Stalley 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. Essex leads with 90 Stalleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.59x.

County Total Index
Essex 90 20.59x
Cambridgeshire 55 39.22x
Middlesex 29 1.31x
Suffolk 18 6.67x
Hertfordshire 10 6.55x
Bedfordshire 6 5.23x
Kent 6 0.79x
Surrey 5 0.46x
Northamptonshire 4 1.92x
Yorkshire 2 0.09x
Norfolk 1 0.29x
Royal Navy 1 3.79x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. West Ham in Essex leads with 31 Stalleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.12x.

Place Total Index
West Ham 31 32.12x
St Andrewthe Less 21 131.09x
Wimbish 20 3125.00x
Ipswich St Mary Stoke 18 720.00x
Fulbourn 12 895.52x
Chatteris 9 251.40x
Hackney London 7 5.64x
Thaxted 7 482.76x
Arlesey 6 413.79x
Bartlow 6 4000.00x
Enfield 6 41.29x
Romford 6 86.83x
Sutton 6 517.24x
Walthamstow 5 31.79x
Edmonton 4 22.42x
Great Hadham 4 408.16x
Great Sampford 4 851.06x
Mepal 4 1379.31x
Plumstead 4 15.89x
Southwark St John 4 59.08x
Wellingborough 4 38.20x
Barking 3 23.46x
Bow London 3 10.64x
Great Amwell 3 196.08x
Shoreditch London 3 3.13x
Bishop Stortford 2 39.22x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 2 32.68x
Horton In Bradford 2 5.84x
Islington London 2 0.93x
Saffron Walden 2 43.29x
Stebbing 2 235.29x
Aveley 1 135.14x
Bermondsey 1 1.52x
Bethnal Green London 1 1.04x
Hatfield Broad Oak 1 68.03x
Heigham 1 5.47x
Hitchin 1 14.51x
Kensington London 1 0.81x
Lee 1 9.12x
Mistley 1 85.47x
Royal Navy 1 4.43x
St Andrewthe Great 1 55.25x
St George Hanover 1 3.46x
St Pancras London 1 0.56x
Sutton At Hone 1 63.69x
Theydon Garnon 1 100.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 11
Elizabeth 10
Sarah 9
Alice 6
Ann 5
Annie 5
Emma 5
Ada 4
Ellen 4
Eliza 3
Francis 3
Grace 3
Hannah 3
Jane 3
Minnie 3
Susan 3
Charlotte 2
Edith 2
Fanny 2
Gertrude 2
Harriet 2
Harriett 2
Louisa 2
Rosina 2
Sophia 2
Susannah 2
Anne 1
Annetta 1
Betsy 1
Clara 1
Eling 1
Emily 1
Flora 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Hemah 1
Jessie 1
Julia 1
Lydia 1
Margaret 1
Maria 1
Matilda 1
May 1
Mynlinda 1
Nelly 1
Rachael 1
Rebecca 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 14
John 10
Thomas 9
George 6
James 6
Walter 6
Charles 5
Alfred 4
David 4
Henry 4
Joseph 4
Edward 3
Peter 3
Richard 3
Arthur 2
Ernest 2
Frederick 2
Herbert 2
Abraham 1
Anthony 1
Ephraim 1
Esau 1
Frank 1
Frederic 1
Fredrick 1
Harry 1
Henrey 1
Isaac 1
Martin 1
Mowbray 1
Obed 1
Robert 1
Sydney 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Stalley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Stalley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 228 people were recorded with the Stalley surname. That placed it at #11,826 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Stalley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 468 in 2016. That gives Stalley a modern rank of #10,507.

What does the Stalley surname mean?

An English surname derived from a place name, possibly referring to a person from Stalley, West Yorkshire.

What does the Stalley map show?

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