NameCensus.

UK surname

Thorlby

In the 1881 census there were 87 people recorded with the Thorlby surname, ranking it #21,334 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 102, ranked #30,722, down from #21,334 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ordsall, Swaton and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rotherham, Epping Forest and Boston.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Thorlby is 133 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 17.2%.

1881 census count

87

Ranked #21,334

Modern count

102

2016, ranked #30,722

Peak year

1998

133 bearers

Map years

5

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Thorlby had 87 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #21,334 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 102 in 2016, ranked #30,722.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 114 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Thorlby surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Thorlby surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Thorlby 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 72 #20,720
1861 historical 109 #19,693
1881 historical 87 #21,334
1891 historical 73 #27,677
1901 historical 78 #25,500
1911 historical 114 #21,064
1997 modern 116 #24,688
1998 modern 133 #23,308
1999 modern 125 #24,366
2000 modern 118 #25,197
2001 modern 123 #24,242
2002 modern 117 #25,494
2003 modern 114 #25,664
2004 modern 112 #26,159
2005 modern 118 #25,301
2006 modern 115 #25,969
2007 modern 124 #25,086
2008 modern 121 #25,785
2009 modern 124 #25,957
2010 modern 116 #27,704
2011 modern 117 #27,334
2012 modern 112 #28,174
2013 modern 106 #29,740
2014 modern 107 #29,827
2015 modern 105 #30,092
2016 modern 102 #30,722

Geography

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Where Thorlbys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ordsall, Swaton, Manchester, Hale, Great and Bicker. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rotherham, Epping Forest, Boston, Bassetlaw and Wealden. 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 Ordsall Nottinghamshire
2 Swaton Lincolnshire
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Hale, Great Lincolnshire
5 Bicker Lincolnshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rotherham 018 Rotherham
2 Epping Forest 013 Epping Forest
3 Boston 006 Boston
4 Bassetlaw 006 Bassetlaw
5 Wealden 011 Wealden

Forenames

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First names often paired with Thorlby

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Thorlby

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Thorlby surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Thorlby household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Thorlby 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

Thorlby 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

Thorlby falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

1881 census detail

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Thorlby families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Thorlby 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. Lincolnshire leads with 72 Thorlbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 53.06x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 72 53.06x
Nottinghamshire 9 7.87x
Lancashire 3 0.30x
Middlesex 3 0.35x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Helpringham in Lincolnshire leads with 43 Thorlbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 15925.93x.

Place Total Index
Helpringham 43 15925.93x
Ewerby 8 6153.85x
Bicker 7 3333.33x
Laxton 6 4285.71x
Bourn 4 363.64x
Islington London 3 3.65x
Sutterton 3 1111.11x
Aighton Bailey 2 408.16x
Threckingham Swaton 2 2500.00x
Basford 1 18.98x
Donington 1 204.08x
Fulbeck 1 526.32x
Hulme 1 4.76x
Ordsall 1 113.64x
Somerby In Grantham 1 285.71x
Southwell 1 120.48x
Spittlegate 1 53.19x
Toft Lound Manthorpe 1 1250.00x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

FAQ

Thorlby surname: questions and answers

How common was the Thorlby surname in 1881?

In 1881, 87 people were recorded with the Thorlby surname. That placed it at #21,334 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Thorlby surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 102 in 2016. That gives Thorlby a modern rank of #30,722.

What does the Thorlby map show?

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