UK surname
An English surname derived from a place name referring to a clearing where staves were made.
In the 1881 census there were 203 people recorded with the Stavely surname, ranking it #12,717 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 45, ranked #35,162, down from #12,717 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Oxford City: St Giles, Clifton, North and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Stavely is 203 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 77.8%.
1881 census count
203
Ranked #12,717
Modern count
45
2016, ranked #35,162
Peak year
1881
203 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Stavely surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Stavely surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 135 | #13,964 |
| 1861 | historical | 112 | #19,279 |
| 1881 | historical | 203 | #12,717 |
| 1891 | historical | 121 | #21,169 |
| 1901 | historical | 106 | #22,076 |
| 1911 | historical | 59 | #26,914 |
| 1997 | modern | 61 | #31,526 |
| 1998 | modern | 55 | #32,399 |
| 1999 | modern | 61 | #31,971 |
| 2000 | modern | 62 | #31,939 |
| 2001 | modern | 63 | #31,693 |
| 2002 | modern | 63 | #32,113 |
| 2003 | modern | 52 | #33,160 |
| 2004 | modern | 49 | #33,647 |
| 2005 | modern | 49 | #33,859 |
| 2006 | modern | 48 | #34,245 |
| 2007 | modern | 50 | #34,347 |
| 2008 | modern | 53 | #34,315 |
| 2009 | modern | 50 | #34,663 |
| 2010 | modern | 51 | #34,773 |
| 2011 | modern | 47 | #34,989 |
| 2012 | modern | 50 | #34,814 |
| 2013 | modern | 49 | #34,952 |
| 2014 | modern | 47 | #35,097 |
| 2015 | modern | 48 | #35,004 |
| 2016 | modern | 45 | #35,162 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Oxford City: St Giles, Clifton, North, London parishes, Dover St James, Dover St Mary and Newark-on-Trent, East Stoke (East Stoke), Park Leys, Rolleston (Fiskerton), Morton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oxford City: St Giles | Oxfordshire |
| 2 | Clifton, North | Nottinghamshire |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | Dover St James, Dover St Mary | Kent |
| 5 | Newark-on-Trent, East Stoke (East Stoke), Park Leys, Rolleston (Fiskerton), Morton | Nottinghamshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Stavely surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Stavely, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Stavely surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Stavely household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Stavely is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Stavely is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Stavely, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Stavely is of English origin, deriving from the place name Staveley, a town in Derbyshire, England. The name is believed to have emerged around the 12th or 13th century, with the earliest known record of the name appearing in the Pipe Rolls of Derbyshire in 1196, where it was spelled as "Staveley."
The name Staveley is thought to derive from the Old English words "stæf," meaning "staff" or "stick," and "leah," meaning "woodland clearing." This suggests that the original meaning of the name may have referred to a clearing in a wooded area where staffs or sticks were gathered or produced.
In the Domesday Book of 1086, the settlement of Staveley is recorded as "Stavelie," which further supports the Old English origins of the name. Over time, the spelling evolved to its modern form of "Stavely."
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Stavely was Robert de Staveley, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Derbyshire in 1242. Another notable early bearer of the name was John de Staveley, who served as a member of parliament for Derbyshire in 1348.
In the 16th century, a branch of the Stavely family settled in Ireland, where the name was spelled as "Stavely" or "Staveley." One prominent member of this Irish branch was Sir William Stavely (c. 1580-1655), an English-born judge who served as Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer in Ireland.
Other notable individuals with the surname Stavely include:
1. Edward Stavely (1675-1736), an English philosopher and clergyman. 2. Thomas Stavely (1661-1726), an English clergyman and author. 3. George Stavely (1799-1869), an English architect known for his work on churches in Derbyshire. 4. William Stavely (1827-1908), an English businessman and philanthropist from Derbyshire. 5. John Stavely (1856-1924), an English cricketer who played for Derbyshire County Cricket Club.
Overall, the surname Stavely has a rich history rooted in the English county of Derbyshire, with its origins dating back to the Middle Ages and possibly even earlier. The name has been carried by notable individuals in various fields, reflecting the diverse contributions of those bearing this surname throughout the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Stavely surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Yorkshire leads with 51 Stavelys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.57x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 51 | 2.57x |
| Lancashire | 36 | 1.52x |
| Nottinghamshire | 24 | 8.90x |
| Middlesex | 22 | 1.10x |
| Kent | 15 | 2.20x |
| Durham | 11 | 1.85x |
| Surrey | 8 | 0.82x |
| Hampshire | 7 | 1.71x |
| Lincolnshire | 7 | 2.19x |
| Renfrewshire | 7 | 4.52x |
| Cheshire | 6 | 1.36x |
| Derbyshire | 3 | 0.96x |
| Ayrshire | 2 | 1.34x |
| Anglesey | 1 | 2.82x |
| Berkshire | 1 | 0.67x |
| Cumberland | 1 | 0.58x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 0.26x |
| Isle of Man | 1 | 2.69x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 4.20x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ecclesall Bierlow in Yorkshire leads with 14 Stavelys recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.73x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Stavely surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Elizabeth | 11 |
| Mary | 11 |
| Ann | 7 |
| Isabella | 5 |
| Ada | 4 |
| Eliza | 4 |
| Emma | 4 |
| Jane | 4 |
| Margaret | 4 |
| Sarah | 4 |
| Annie | 3 |
| Hannah | 3 |
| Anne | 2 |
| Ellen | 2 |
| Emily | 2 |
| Julia | 2 |
| Kate | 2 |
| Louisa | 2 |
| Lucy | 2 |
| Martha | 2 |
| Rebecca | 2 |
| Rose | 2 |
| Agnes | 1 |
| Alice | 1 |
| Amlia | 1 |
| Betrix | 1 |
| Betsy | 1 |
| Caroline | 1 |
| Catharine | 1 |
| Catherine | 1 |
| Clara | 1 |
| Eden | 1 |
| Elise | 1 |
| Elizth. | 1 |
| Florence | 1 |
| Gertrude | 1 |
| Harriet | 1 |
| Helen | 1 |
| Henrietta | 1 |
| Honor | 1 |
| Isabel | 1 |
| James | 1 |
| Jessie | 1 |
| Josephine | 1 |
| Margt. | 1 |
| Maria | 1 |
| Minnie | 1 |
| Polly | 1 |
| Rosa | 1 |
| Selina | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Stavely surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Stavely households.
FAQ
In 1881, 203 people were recorded with the Stavely surname. That placed it at #12,717 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 45 in 2016. That gives Stavely a modern rank of #35,162.
An English surname derived from a place name referring to a clearing where staves were made.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Stavely bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.