NameCensus.

UK surname

Storey

An occupational surname referring to a builder or mason who constructed storeyed buildings.

In the 1881 census there were 7,607 people recorded with the Storey surname, ranking it #561 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 12,563, ranked #515, up from #561 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Northumberland, County Durham and Bassetlaw.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Storey is 12,839 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 65.2%.

1881 census count

7,607

Ranked #561

Modern count

12,563

2016, ranked #515

Peak year

2014

12,839 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Storey had 7,607 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #561 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 12,563 in 2016, ranked #515.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 10,949 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Storey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Storey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Storey 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 4,349 #652
1861 historical 3,929 #713
1881 historical 7,607 #561
1891 historical 8,123 #539
1901 historical 9,813 #534
1911 historical 10,949 #444
1997 modern 12,394 #494
1998 modern 12,688 #504
1999 modern 12,682 #507
2000 modern 12,693 #506
2001 modern 12,367 #507
2002 modern 12,590 #507
2003 modern 12,256 #511
2004 modern 12,247 #510
2005 modern 11,992 #516
2006 modern 11,955 #519
2007 modern 12,006 #524
2008 modern 12,111 #520
2009 modern 12,408 #521
2010 modern 12,700 #515
2011 modern 12,486 #520
2012 modern 12,379 #511
2013 modern 12,771 #509
2014 modern 12,839 #511
2015 modern 12,650 #513
2016 modern 12,563 #515

Geography

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Where Storeys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes, Gateshead, Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Northumberland, County Durham and Bassetlaw. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 London parishes London 3
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) Northumberland
5 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Northumberland 015 Northumberland
2 County Durham 048 County Durham
3 Bassetlaw 016 Bassetlaw
4 Northumberland 037 Northumberland
5 Northumberland 020 Northumberland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Storey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Storey

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Storey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Storey household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Storey is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Storey 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

Storey falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Storey

The surname Storey is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "stor" meaning a person who lived near a large wood or grove. It first appeared in the 11th century in areas around Yorkshire and Lancashire.

The name is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, with entries for "Stori" in Yorkshire and "Sturai" in Lancashire. These early spellings reflect the Old English pronunciation and spelling variations common at the time.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Robert de Storey, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1199. The "de" prefix indicates he hailed from a specific place called Storey.

During the 13th century, the name began appearing in various spellings such as Stori, Storii, and Storey, reflecting the evolution of the English language. Many of these early bearers likely lived near or were associated with a place called Storey, which may have derived its name from the Old English word "stor."

In the 14th century, John Storey, a merchant from York, was mentioned in records from 1379. Around the same time, a William Storey was recorded as a landowner in Lancashire in 1386.

Notable people with the surname Storey include:

1. Lancelot Storey (c.1520-1573), an English politician and Member of Parliament. 2. Samuel Storey (1651-1719), an English nonconformist minister and author. 3. Thomas Storey (1753-1828), an English architect and surveyor who worked on several notable buildings in Yorkshire. 4. William Storey (1792-1856), an English engineer and inventor who patented improvements to the steam engine. 5. John Storey (1826-1887), an English businessman and philanthropist who founded the Storey Institute in Lancaster.

The surname Storey continues to be found predominantly in England, with many bearers tracing their roots back to the northern counties where the name first emerged.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Storey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Storey 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 1,469 Storeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.00x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 1,469 2.00x
Durham 1,340 6.07x
Northumberland 1,139 10.31x
Lancashire 811 0.92x
Middlesex 539 0.73x
Surrey 257 0.71x
Cumberland 224 3.50x
Norfolk 184 1.61x
Lincolnshire 182 1.53x
Westmorland 135 8.27x
Kent 108 0.43x
Somerset 104 0.87x
Essex 92 0.63x
Huntingdonshire 85 5.77x
Derbyshire 82 0.71x
Nottinghamshire 81 0.81x
Suffolk 76 0.84x
Cheshire 73 0.45x
Cambridgeshire 63 1.34x
Lanarkshire 43 0.18x
Staffordshire 41 0.16x
Hertfordshire 40 0.78x
Hampshire 39 0.26x
Warwickshire 36 0.19x
Berwickshire 33 3.67x
Devon 28 0.18x
Shropshire 27 0.42x
Roxburghshire 26 1.93x
Leicestershire 23 0.28x
Northamptonshire 23 0.33x
Midlothian 20 0.20x
Bedfordshire 17 0.44x
Dorset 16 0.33x
Dumfriesshire 15 0.91x
East Lothian 14 1.42x
Buckinghamshire 11 0.25x
Rutland 11 2.02x
Cornwall 10 0.12x
Glamorgan 10 0.08x
Berkshire 9 0.16x
Cardiganshire 8 0.44x
Sussex 8 0.06x
Worcestershire 7 0.07x
Selkirkshire 6 0.89x
Flintshire 5 0.25x
Monmouthshire 5 0.09x
Royal Navy 5 0.57x
Anglesey 4 0.30x
Oxfordshire 4 0.09x
Wiltshire 4 0.06x
Aberdeenshire 3 0.04x
Stirlingshire 3 0.11x
Gloucestershire 2 0.01x
Kirkcudbrightshire 2 0.19x
Perthshire 2 0.06x
Angus 1 0.01x
Ayrshire 1 0.02x
Isle of Man 1 0.07x
Renfrewshire 1 0.02x
Shetland 1 0.13x
West Lothian 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 130 Storeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.13x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 130 3.13x
Gateshead 118 7.14x
Cullercoates 109 314.03x
Sheffield 91 3.89x
Tynemouth 90 15.22x
Hetton Le Hole 75 26.80x
Westoe 74 5.91x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 73 7.63x
Monkwearmouth Shore 65 15.08x
Elswick 62 7.03x
Newcastle On Tyne St 59 10.31x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 58 8.79x
Liverpool 55 1.03x
Islington London 54 0.75x
Longbenton 52 11.12x
Newington 50 1.82x
Toxteth Park 50 1.68x
Manchester 47 1.19x
St Pancras London 47 0.79x
Holy Trinity 46 2.60x
Westgate 45 6.58x
Byker 43 7.88x
Bedlington 42 11.39x
West Ham 42 1.30x
Chirton 41 16.40x
Horton In Bradford 41 3.57x
Bishopwearmouth 40 2.11x
Bradford 40 2.25x
Ecclesall Bierlow 40 2.67x
Kensington London 40 0.97x
Pendleton In Salford 39 3.72x
Kendal 37 12.39x
Battersea 36 1.32x
Cowpen 36 14.15x
High Low Bishopside 35 53.63x
Keswick 35 42.84x
Newcastle On Tyne St John 35 24.10x
Bermondsey 34 1.54x
Bridgewater 34 10.48x
Harthill Cum Woodall 34 120.65x
Shoreditch London 34 1.06x
Darlington 33 3.87x
Newbiggin In Morpeth 33 93.43x
Hunslet 31 2.70x
Lambeth 31 0.48x
Accrington 30 3.75x
Conside Knitsley 30 17.47x
Hackney London 30 0.72x
Handsworth 30 15.43x
Heworth 29 6.66x
Southwick 29 13.87x
Camberwell 27 0.57x
Crook Billy Row 27 9.55x
Great Yarmouth 27 2.86x
Lancaster 27 5.15x
Sculcoates 27 2.32x
Barrow In Furness 26 2.17x
Bewerley 26 85.92x
Dalton In Furness 26 7.65x
Plumstead 26 3.08x
Tanfield 26 9.90x
Ulverston 26 10.13x
Worksop 26 8.76x
Brightside Bierlow 23 1.59x
Castle Bolton 23 536.13x
North Petherton 23 23.86x
Oldham 23 0.81x
Parton 23 60.99x
Salford 23 0.89x
Wallsend 23 6.57x
Birmingham 22 0.35x
Mile End Old Town 22 1.88x
North Runcton 22 357.72x
Redmire 22 249.43x
St Marylebone London 22 0.56x
Stockton On Tees 22 2.07x
Stranton 22 2.96x
Paddington London 21 0.77x
Poplar London 21 1.50x
Witton Le Wear 21 33.52x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 563
Elizabeth 335
Sarah 246
Jane 210
Margaret 180
Ann 174
Annie 117
Ellen 102
Alice 92
Hannah 92
Isabella 92
Eliza 71
Emma 71
Emily 62
Martha 54
Charlotte 52
Catherine 51
Louisa 46
Harriet 40
Edith 37
Frances 37
Ada 34
Agnes 34
Florence 33
Maria 33
Clara 26
Fanny 26
Eleanor 25
Lucy 23
Susan 23
Kate 21
Dorothy 19
Caroline 18
Margt. 18
Barbara 17
Rebecca 17
Esther 16
Rose 16
Anne 15
Elizth. 14
Susannah 14
Julia 13
Amelia 12
Grace 12
Jessie 12
Laura 12
Minnie 12
Ruth 12
Christiana 11
Susanna 11

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 579
William 468
George 289
Thomas 255
James 238
Robert 183
Joseph 130
Henry 128
Charles 93
Edward 87
Alfred 66
Richard 56
Arthur 51
Frederick 47
Walter 41
Samuel 39
Francis 32
Herbert 31
Wm. 31
Christopher 28
Albert 24
Ernest 23
Harry 22
Matthew 21
Frank 19
David 18
Benjamin 17
Thos. 17
Andrew 16
Geo. 16
Ralph 16
Isaac 15
Alexander 14
Jonathan 12
Tom 12
Stephen 11
Anthony 9
Chas. 9
Edwin 9
Mark 9
Daniel 8
Adam 7
Fred 7
Mathew 7
Michael 7
Peter 7
Philip 7
Willm. 7
Percy 6
Robt. 5

FAQ

Storey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Storey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 7,607 people were recorded with the Storey surname. That placed it at #561 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Storey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 12,563 in 2016. That gives Storey a modern rank of #515.

What does the Storey surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a builder or mason who constructed storeyed buildings.

What does the Storey map show?

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