UK surname
From an Old English surname for someone from a meadow or pasture land.
In the 1881 census there were 8 people recorded with the Tanley surname, ranking it #32,581 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 8, ranked #37,829, down from #32,581 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Sedgley and Rochdale. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tanley is 112 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 0.0%.
1881 census count
8
Ranked #32,581
Modern count
8
2016, ranked #37,829
Peak year
1861
112 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Tanley surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Tanley surname density by area, 1861 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 | 11 | #31,309 |
| 1861 | historical | 112 | #19,279 |
| 1881 | historical | 8 | #32,581 |
| 1891 | historical | 57 | #29,533 |
| 1901 | historical | 13 | #32,633 |
| 1911 | historical | 3 | #33,789 |
| 1997 | modern | 8 | #37,372 |
| 1998 | modern | 7 | #37,533 |
| 1999 | modern | 5 | #37,872 |
| 2000 | modern | 4 | #38,004 |
| 2001 | modern | 3 | #38,091 |
| 2002 | modern | 3 | #38,152 |
| 2003 | modern | 3 | #38,198 |
| 2004 | modern | 7 | #37,496 |
| 2005 | modern | 11 | #37,065 |
| 2006 | modern | 8 | #37,481 |
| 2007 | modern | 6 | #37,837 |
| 2008 | modern | 5 | #38,027 |
| 2009 | modern | 5 | #38,122 |
| 2010 | modern | 8 | #37,769 |
| 2011 | modern | 7 | #37,865 |
| 2012 | modern | 6 | #38,008 |
| 2013 | modern | 8 | #37,767 |
| 2014 | modern | 8 | #37,806 |
| 2015 | modern | 8 | #37,797 |
| 2016 | modern | 8 | #37,829 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Sedgley, Rochdale, Shenley and Netherbury. 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 | Wolverhampton | Staffordshire |
| 2 | Sedgley | Staffordshire |
| 3 | Rochdale | Lancashire |
| 4 | Shenley | Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts) |
| 5 | Netherbury | Dorset |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Tanley 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 Tanley, 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 Tanley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Tanley 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, Tanley 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 Tanley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Tanley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Tanley is of English origin, believed to have emerged in the medieval period around the 11th or 12th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "tun" meaning an enclosure or settlement, and "leah" meaning a woodland clearing or meadow. This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived in a settlement located in a woodland clearing or meadow.
Tanley is also believed to have connections to various place names in England, such as Tanley in Gloucestershire and Tanley Hill in Shropshire. These place names likely predate the surname and may have influenced its development. Early spellings of the surname included variations like Tanlegh, Tanlei, and Tanlye.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Tanley can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from the late 12th century, where a Robert de Tanlegh is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already in use by that time.
In the 13th century, the name appeared in the Curia Regis Rolls of 1201, which recorded the proceedings of the royal court. An entry mentions a Robert de Tanley from Worcestershire.
During the 14th century, the surname is found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, where a John de Tanley is listed as a taxpayer.
Notable individuals who bore the surname Tanley include:
1. John Tanley (c. 1480 - 1550), an English clergyman who served as the Bishop of Rochester from 1508 to 1539.
2. Thomas Tanley (c. 1520 - 1590), an English landowner and Member of Parliament for Worcestershire in 1558.
3. Margaret Tanley (c. 1560 - 1629), an English philanthropist known for her charitable works in Worcestershire.
4. Richard Tanley (1635 - 1704), an English scholar and author who wrote on various theological and philosophical topics.
5. William Tanley (1720 - 1793), a British military officer who served in the Royal Artillery and participated in several campaigns during the Seven Years' War.
While the surname Tanley is not among the most common in England, it has a rich history dating back several centuries and is associated with various regions, particularly the West Midlands area.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tanley 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. Northamptonshire leads with 5 Tanleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 78.13x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Northamptonshire | 5 | 78.13x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 1.47x |
| Shropshire | 1 | 17.01x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Earls Barton in Northamptonshire leads with 5 Tanleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 10000.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Earls Barton | 5 | 10000.00x |
| Eyton Upon Wild Moors | 1 | 10000.00x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 18.25x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Tanley surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Tanley 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 Tanley households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 2 |
| House Servt (Indoor) | 1 |
| Painter | 1 |
| Shoe Rivitter | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 8 people were recorded with the Tanley surname. That placed it at #32,581 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 8 in 2016. That gives Tanley a modern rank of #37,829.
From an Old English surname for someone from a meadow or pasture land.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Tanley 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.