NameCensus.

UK surname

Thurley

An English habitational name for someone from a place called Thurley or Thurlow.

In the 1881 census there were 432 people recorded with the Thurley surname, ranking it #7,547 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 561, ranked #9,145, down from #7,547 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Loughton, London parishes and Peterborough St John the Baptist. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Epping Forest, East Hertfordshire and South Cambridgeshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Thurley is 626 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 29.9%.

1881 census count

432

Ranked #7,547

Modern count

561

2016, ranked #9,145

Peak year

1911

626 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Thurley had 432 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,547 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 561 in 2016, ranked #9,145.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 626 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Thurley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Thurley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Thurley 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 227 #9,448
1861 historical 325 #7,835
1881 historical 432 #7,547
1891 historical 474 #7,746
1901 historical 585 #7,209
1911 historical 626 #6,620
1997 modern 580 #8,342
1998 modern 608 #8,310
1999 modern 623 #8,224
2000 modern 619 #8,249
2001 modern 584 #8,445
2002 modern 594 #8,519
2003 modern 571 #8,609
2004 modern 571 #8,629
2005 modern 548 #8,805
2006 modern 564 #8,668
2007 modern 557 #8,813
2008 modern 569 #8,742
2009 modern 584 #8,761
2010 modern 598 #8,802
2011 modern 583 #8,880
2012 modern 580 #8,813
2013 modern 579 #8,965
2014 modern 574 #9,078
2015 modern 568 #9,068
2016 modern 561 #9,145

Geography

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Where Thurleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Loughton, London parishes, Peterborough St John the Baptist and Melbourn, Meldreth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Epping Forest, East Hertfordshire and South Cambridgeshire. 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 Loughton Essex
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Peterborough St John the Baptist Northamptonshire
5 Melbourn, Meldreth Hertfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Epping Forest 003 Epping Forest
2 East Hertfordshire 007 East Hertfordshire
3 South Cambridgeshire 018 South Cambridgeshire
4 East Hertfordshire 003 East Hertfordshire
5 East Hertfordshire 008 East Hertfordshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Thurley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Thurley

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Thurley is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Thurley is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Thurley falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Thurley

The surname Thurley originated in England, with its earliest known records dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to derive from the Old English words "thur" meaning a gap or opening, and "leah" referring to a woodland clearing or meadow. This suggests that the name's origins likely stem from a topographical description of an area where the first bearers resided or worked.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Thurley can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Bedfordshire from 1166, where a Roger de Thurleye is listed. The Pipe Rolls were a series of administrative records maintained by the English Exchequer, documenting financial transactions and tax payments.

During the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, including Thurle, Thurlegh, and Thurlei, reflecting the variations in spelling common during that period. In 1273, a Robert de Thurley is recorded in the Hundred Rolls of Buckinghamshire, a survey of landholders and their possessions.

The Thurley surname has been traced back to several locations in England, such as Thurley in Berkshire and Thurleigh in Bedfordshire. These place names likely influenced the spelling and pronunciation variations of the surname over time.

Notable individuals bearing the Thurley surname include:

1. Sir Edward Thurley (c.1530-1586), an English businessman and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. 2. John Thurley (1673-1732), an English architect and garden designer, known for his work at Blenheim Palace and Edgcote House. 3. William Thurley (1778-1846), a British landscape painter and engraver, renowned for his picturesque views of English countryside and architectural subjects. 4. Simon Thurley (born 1962), an English architectural historian and former Chief Executive of English Heritage, a leading authority on historic buildings and conservation. 5. Hilary Thurley (1946-2022), a British actress and television presenter, best known for her roles in the BBC comedy series "The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin" and "Ever Decreasing Circles."

While the Thurley surname may have originated from modest beginnings, it has been carried by individuals from various walks of life throughout history, leaving an indelible mark across various fields such as politics, architecture, art, and entertainment.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Thurley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Thurley 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 115 Thurleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.82x.

County Total Index
Essex 115 13.82x
Middlesex 95 2.25x
Hertfordshire 40 13.77x
Bedfordshire 35 16.04x
Cambridgeshire 30 11.24x
Surrey 27 1.31x
Northamptonshire 22 5.55x
Kent 16 1.11x
Yorkshire 11 0.26x
Lancashire 10 0.20x
Sussex 7 0.99x
Berkshire 6 1.90x
Huntingdonshire 5 5.98x
Cheshire 2 0.22x
Gloucestershire 2 0.24x
Hampshire 2 0.23x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.35x
Devon 1 0.11x
Dorset 1 0.36x
Durham 1 0.08x
Oxfordshire 1 0.38x
Worcestershire 1 0.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Hallingbury in Essex leads with 32 Thurleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3516.48x.

Place Total Index
Great Hallingbury 32 3516.48x
Bishop Stortford 22 226.80x
Standground 18 947.37x
Little Hallingbury 16 1904.76x
Islington London 14 3.43x
Leaden Roothing 14 5384.62x
Bedford St Mary 13 231.32x
Loughton 13 316.30x
Hackney London 12 5.08x
Camberwell 11 4.09x
Meldreth 11 1057.69x
Sandy 11 285.71x
Bassingbourn 10 255.10x
Margaret Roothing 9 2812.50x
Croxton 7 1666.67x
St Pancras London 7 2.06x
Westminster St 7 45.05x
Beenham 6 789.47x
Cheshunt 6 59.11x
Hammersmith London 6 5.78x
Lewisham 6 7.83x
Limehouse London 6 12.97x
St George Hanover 6 10.91x
Accrington 5 11.00x
Bermondsey 5 3.99x
Hatfield Broad Oak 5 177.94x
High Roothing 5 781.25x
Hilton 5 980.39x
Margate St John Baptist 5 18.99x
Shoreditch London 5 2.74x
Skircoat 5 30.36x
Standon 5 167.22x
Battersea 4 2.58x
Bethnal Green London 4 2.19x
Chigwell 4 50.96x
Great Canfield 4 800.00x
Irthlingborough 4 102.83x
Kensington London 4 1.71x
St George In East 4 13.96x
Waldron 4 206.19x
Bedford St Peter 3 52.91x
Birchanger 3 434.78x
Blunham 3 202.70x
Hulme 3 2.87x
Humbleton Flinton 3 517.24x
Lambeth 3 0.82x
Mile End Old Town 3 4.51x
Sittingbourne 3 26.43x
Tottenham 3 4.47x
West Ham 3 1.63x
Bedford St Paul 2 13.36x
Bow London 2 3.73x
Broxbourne 2 34.72x
Edmonton 2 5.89x
Liverpool 2 0.66x
Lower Bebington 2 36.17x
St Anne Soho London 2 8.31x
Takeley 2 168.07x
Westminster St James 2 4.62x
Aldershot 1 3.46x
Ardingly 1 44.25x
Bedford St John 1 303.03x
Bletchington 1 114.94x
Caxton 1 121.95x
Chelsea London 1 0.79x
Chertsey 1 7.54x
Dodworth 1 23.04x
East Stonehouse 1 5.79x
Etchingham 1 76.34x
Harlow 1 27.93x
Harrold 1 67.57x
Houghton Conquest 1 111.11x
Portsmouth 1 5.03x
Royston 1 40.49x
St Luke London 1 1.48x
Stanstead Abbots 1 56.82x
Stroud 1 6.22x
Thorley 1 166.67x
West Moulsey 1 105.26x
Woodford 1 10.62x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 19
Eliza 12
Elizabeth 11
Sarah 11
Annie 9
Ellen 8
Emma 8
Emily 7
Fanny 7
Alice 6
Ann 6
Louisa 5
Rebecca 5
Ada 4
Clara 4
Jane 4
Caroline 3
Charlotte 3
Elizth. 3
Hannah 3
Harriet 3
Margaret 3
Martha 3
Ruth 3
Susannah 3
Edith 2
Kate 2
Matilda 2
Selina 2
Sophia 2
Susan 2
Betsy 1
E.R. 1
Eleanor 1
Elena 1
Eliz. 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Eve 1
Frances 1
Frederica 1
Georgiana 1
Grace 1
Louria 1
Lucy 1
Mabel 1
Margarett 1
Maria 1
Milicent 1
Teresca 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 27
William 27
George 16
Frederick 13
Arthur 12
James 11
Charles 10
Walter 8
Edward 7
Henry 7
Thomas 7
Joseph 6
Richard 5
Abraham 4
Alfred 4
Robert 4
Albert 3
Edwin 3
Harry 3
Matthew 3
Wm. 3
Aaron 2
Daniel 2
Ernest 2
Ezra 2
Francis 2
Fredrick 2
Morris 2
Phillip 2
Samuel 2
Abijah 1
Bertram 1
Cornelio 1
Cornelius 1
David 1
Earnest 1
Frank 1
Fredk. 1
Geo. 1
H.Jas. 1
Hector 1
Herbert 1
J.W. 1
Lazarus 1
Michael 1
Michal 1
Philip 1
Robt. 1
Ruben 1
Worton 1

FAQ

Thurley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Thurley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 432 people were recorded with the Thurley surname. That placed it at #7,547 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Thurley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 561 in 2016. That gives Thurley a modern rank of #9,145.

What does the Thurley surname mean?

An English habitational name for someone from a place called Thurley or Thurlow.

What does the Thurley map show?

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