NameCensus.

UK surname

Titley

A habitational surname derived from a place named Titley, likely in England.

In the 1881 census there were 802 people recorded with the Titley surname, ranking it #4,642 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,571, ranked #3,946, up from #4,642 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Sedgley and Stoke-on-Trent, Bucknell-cum-Bagnall, Caverswall. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin and Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Titley is 1,685 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 95.9%.

1881 census count

802

Ranked #4,642

Modern count

1,571

2016, ranked #3,946

Peak year

1998

1,685 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Titley had 802 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,642 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,571 in 2016, ranked #3,946.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,343 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Titley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Titley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Titley 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 609 #4,230
1861 historical 432 #5,954
1881 historical 802 #4,642
1891 historical 908 #4,543
1901 historical 1,275 #3,895
1911 historical 1,343 #3,565
1997 modern 1,487 #3,935
1998 modern 1,685 #3,661
1999 modern 1,663 #3,737
2000 modern 1,621 #3,803
2001 modern 1,610 #3,754
2002 modern 1,646 #3,740
2003 modern 1,616 #3,730
2004 modern 1,616 #3,740
2005 modern 1,584 #3,756
2006 modern 1,589 #3,757
2007 modern 1,604 #3,761
2008 modern 1,628 #3,739
2009 modern 1,670 #3,740
2010 modern 1,665 #3,828
2011 modern 1,644 #3,830
2012 modern 1,567 #3,925
2013 modern 1,590 #3,940
2014 modern 1,602 #3,935
2015 modern 1,593 #3,915
2016 modern 1,571 #3,946

Geography

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Where Titleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Sedgley, Stoke-on-Trent, Bucknell-cum-Bagnall, Caverswall, Cannock and Walsall. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Cannock Chase. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 Sedgley Staffordshire
3 Stoke-on-Trent, Bucknell-cum-Bagnall, Caverswall Staffordshire
4 Cannock Staffordshire
5 Walsall Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Shropshire 026 Shropshire
2 Telford and Wrekin 009 Telford and Wrekin
3 Newcastle-under-Lyme 006 Newcastle-under-Lyme
4 Shropshire 015 Shropshire
5 Cannock Chase 012 Cannock Chase

Forenames

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First names often paired with Titley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Titley

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

London Fringe

Within London, Titley is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

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

Titley is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Titley 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 Titley 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 Titley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Titley

The surname Titley originated in England, and its earliest recorded use can be traced back to the late 12th century. It is believed to be a locational name derived from the place name Titley, which is a small village located in Herefordshire, near the Welsh border. The name Titley itself is derived from the Old English words "tyt" meaning a lookout or watch tower, and "leah" meaning a clearing or meadow.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, the village of Titley is recorded under the name "Titelege," which further supports the theory of its Old English origins. The earliest known record of the surname Titley can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Herefordshire from 1195, where a certain Richard de Titelege is mentioned.

Throughout the medieval period, the Titley family was closely associated with the village of the same name. In the 14th century, a John de Titley is recorded as holding lands in Titley and serving as the local lord of the manor. This illustrates how the surname was originally a descriptive one, indicating the family's connection to the place where they lived.

As the Titley family grew and dispersed over the centuries, variations in the spelling of the name began to emerge, including Tytley, Tittley, and Titeleye. One notable figure from this era was Sir John Titley (c. 1425-1489), who served as a knight and member of the gentry in Herefordshire.

In the 16th century, the Titley family continued to be prominent landowners in the region. A particularly notable figure was Thomas Titley (c. 1510-1578), who was a Member of Parliament for Herefordshire and played a role in the local administration of the county.

As the centuries progressed, members of the Titley family continued to make their mark in various fields. For example, in the 18th century, there was a renowned painter named John Titley (1703-1789) who was known for his landscapes and portraits. Another notable figure was William Titley (1786-1864), a prominent architect who designed several churches and public buildings in the West Midlands region of England.

It is worth noting that while the surname Titley has its roots firmly planted in the English countryside, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through migration and colonization. However, its origins can be traced back to the small village of Titley in Herefordshire, where the name first emerged as a locational descriptor many centuries ago.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Titley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Titley 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. Staffordshire leads with 350 Titleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.27x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 350 13.27x
Shropshire 142 21.04x
Lancashire 52 0.56x
Lincolnshire 36 2.88x
Monmouthshire 30 5.31x
Middlesex 27 0.35x
Somerset 24 1.91x
Yorkshire 24 0.31x
Warwickshire 20 1.01x
Cheshire 14 0.81x
Leicestershire 13 1.50x
Worcestershire 12 1.18x
Surrey 10 0.26x
Gloucestershire 9 0.59x
Montgomeryshire 8 4.47x
Herefordshire 6 1.87x
Durham 5 0.22x
Northumberland 5 0.43x
Cumberland 3 0.45x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.28x
Denbighshire 2 0.68x
Suffolk 2 0.21x
Cornwall 1 0.11x
Derbyshire 1 0.08x
Kent 1 0.04x
Sussex 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cannock in Staffordshire leads with 32 Titleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 69.54x.

Place Total Index
Cannock 32 69.54x
Sedgley 30 30.62x
Newcastle Under Lyme 26 55.71x
Wolverhampton 26 12.82x
Stoke Upon Trent 20 7.15x
Blymhill 17 1259.26x
Burslem 17 22.50x
Tipton 17 21.05x
Wednesfield 17 43.80x
Wellington 17 44.81x
Lyncombe Widcombe 16 48.59x
Checkley 14 204.38x
Uttoxeter 13 96.30x
Walsall Foreign 13 9.54x
Market Rasen 12 171.92x
Hammersmith London 11 5.72x
Gnosall 10 156.99x
Shifnal 10 54.56x
Stafford St Mary 10 26.79x
Wolstanton Knutton 10 62.11x
Handsworth 9 13.84x
Hodnet 9 170.78x
Accrington 8 9.49x
Aston 8 1.47x
Barwell 8 174.67x
Bilston 8 15.65x
Lye 8 47.11x
Madeley 8 32.32x
Minsterley 8 321.29x
West Dean 8 32.14x
Bathwick 7 50.29x
Birmingham 7 1.07x
Hainton 7 864.20x
Newport 7 85.89x
Upper Llanvrechva 7 79.73x
Blackburn 6 2.43x
Brewood 6 78.95x
Church Pulverbach 6 560.75x
Guildford St Nicholas 6 89.15x
Hackney London 6 1.37x
Ludford Parva 6 659.34x
Rocester 6 183.49x
Sandbach 6 40.79x
Stoke St Milborough 6 425.53x
Woore 6 335.20x
Abergavenny 5 23.64x
Bedwellty 5 5.01x
Elswick 5 5.39x
Kemberton 5 684.93x
Leeds 5 1.14x
Leicester St Nicholas 5 101.83x
Mynyddyslwyn 5 22.44x
Potter Newton 5 36.60x
Rotherham 5 11.45x
Sixhills 5 1063.83x
Stockton On Tees 5 4.46x
Sutton Coldfield 5 24.14x
Wollaston 5 581.40x
Wombourn Woodford 5 1086.96x
Worsley 5 8.75x
Worthen Hope 5 349.65x
Chapel Allerton 4 34.51x
Chebsey 4 296.30x
Chirbury 4 100.50x
Dawley 4 16.29x
Islington London 4 0.53x
Longdon 4 109.59x
Montford 4 298.51x
Salford 4 1.47x
Shareshill Hilton 4 380.95x
Shire Newton 4 196.08x
Shrewsbury Holy Cross 4 53.62x
Stanton Lacy 4 68.61x
Tettenhall 4 24.80x
Toxteth Park 4 1.27x
Waters Upton 4 769.23x
West Bromwich 4 2.65x
Llanfyllin 3 63.56x
Stone 3 8.89x
West Derby 3 1.11x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 71
William 65
Thomas 34
James 23
Joseph 23
George 22
Charles 12
Edward 12
Henry 12
Alfred 11
Walter 11
Richard 8
Albert 7
Arthur 6
Frederick 6
Samuel 6
David 4
Philip 4
Benjamin 3
Edwin 3
Frances 3
Abraham 2
Anthony 2
Cresswell 2
Edwd. 2
Ernest 2
Fred 2
Fredrick 2
Gideon 2
Harry 2
Isiah 2
Mark 2
Robert 2
Thos. 2
Wm. 2
Absolem 1
Allen 1
Andrew 1
Bertrand 1
Caleb 1
Charle 1
Evan 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Fredk.L. 1
Jonathan 1
Lemuel 1
Leo 1
Leonard 1
Wm.Albert 1

FAQ

Titley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Titley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 802 people were recorded with the Titley surname. That placed it at #4,642 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Titley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,571 in 2016. That gives Titley a modern rank of #3,946.

What does the Titley surname mean?

A habitational surname derived from a place named Titley, likely in England.

What does the Titley map show?

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