NameCensus.

UK surname

Torley

A habitational surname derived from a place name in England.

In the 1881 census there were 62 people recorded with the Torley surname, ranking it #24,843 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 261, ranked #16,309, up from #24,843 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to New Monkland, Borrowstounness and Carriden and Denny. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Airdrie North, Cathcart and Allerdale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Torley is 285 in 2009. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 321.0%.

1881 census count

62

Ranked #24,843

Modern count

261

2016, ranked #16,309

Peak year

2009

285 bearers

Map years

6

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Torley had 62 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #24,843 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 261 in 2016, ranked #16,309.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 159 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Torley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Torley surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Torley 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 60 #22,584
1861 historical 159 #14,553
1881 historical 62 #24,843
1891 historical 111 #22,421
1901 historical 115 #21,050
1911 historical 51 #27,708
1997 modern 249 #15,319
1998 modern 251 #15,631
1999 modern 253 #15,667
2000 modern 272 #14,868
2001 modern 260 #15,113
2002 modern 277 #14,764
2003 modern 276 #14,604
2004 modern 280 #14,530
2005 modern 279 #14,480
2006 modern 282 #14,459
2007 modern 282 #14,618
2008 modern 280 #14,823
2009 modern 285 #14,944
2010 modern 284 #15,312
2011 modern 277 #15,433
2012 modern 259 #16,126
2013 modern 263 #16,232
2014 modern 263 #16,334
2015 modern 262 #16,278
2016 modern 261 #16,309

Geography

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Where Torleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around New Monkland, Borrowstounness and Carriden, Denny, Govan Combination and Workington (Workington), Clossocks. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Airdrie North, Cathcart, Allerdale, IZ08 and IZ10. 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 New Monkland Lanark
2 Borrowstounness and Carriden Linlithgow
3 Denny Stirling
4 Govan Combination Lanark
5 Workington (Workington), Clossocks Cumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Airdrie North North Lanarkshire
2 Cathcart Glasgow City
3 Allerdale 009 Allerdale
4 IZ08 East Lothian
5 IZ10 East Lothian

Forenames

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First names often paired with Torley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Torley

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

Established but Challenged

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Torley is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Torley is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Torley 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 Torley 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 - Irish

This describes the area pattern most associated with Torley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Torley

The surname Torley has its origins in England, where it first appeared in the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "tor" and "leah," which together mean "a meadow or clearing on a hill or rocky eminence." As such, it was likely an occupational name for someone who lived or worked in such a location.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1275, where a William Torley is listed. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also mention a John de Torle in Buckinghamshire. These early spellings, such as "Torle" and "de Torle," reflect the name's evolution over time.

In the 14th century, the Torley surname appeared in various records across England, including the Yorkshire Poll Tax of 1379, which lists a Johannes Torlay. The name was particularly concentrated in the counties of Worcestershire, Buckinghamshire, and Yorkshire during this period.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Torley name continued to be found in various records and documents throughout England. One notable bearer was Robert Torley, a merchant from London who lived from 1580 to 1654. He was involved in the East India Company and was known for his philanthropic work in the city.

In the 18th century, a branch of the Torley family settled in the village of Torley in Staffordshire. This village likely took its name from the same Old English roots as the surname, indicating a historical connection to the place.

Other notable individuals with the Torley surname include:

1. Thomas Torley (1637-1697), an English clergyman and author from Worcestershire. 2. Elizabeth Torley (1688-1765), a landowner and philanthropist from Yorkshire. 3. John Torley (1759-1837), a member of the British Parliament representing Buckinghamshire in the early 19th century. 4. William Torley (1802-1876), a prominent industrialist and businessman from Lancashire. 5. Mary Torley (1842-1912), a social reformer and activist for women's rights in London.

While the Torley surname has remained relatively rare throughout history, its origins and presence in various regions of England over the centuries showcase the rich tapestry of the country's historical records and the linguistic roots of its names.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Torley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Torley 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. Lanarkshire leads with 27 Torleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.81x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 27 13.81x
Stirlingshire 8 35.87x
Fife 5 13.97x
Dunbartonshire 4 24.62x
Hampshire 4 3.23x
Lancashire 3 0.42x
West Lothian 3 32.93x
Middlesex 2 0.33x
Somerset 2 2.05x
Kent 1 0.48x
Northumberland 1 1.11x
Warwickshire 1 0.66x
Yorkshire 1 0.17x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. New Monkland in Lanarkshire leads with 13 Torleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 224.91x.

Place Total Index
New Monkland 13 224.91x
Denny 8 672.27x
Old Monkland 7 90.21x
Ballingry 5 2272.73x
Old Kilpatrick 4 208.33x
Aldershot 3 72.29x
Carriden 3 731.71x
Hamilton 3 55.05x
Bath St Peter St Paul 2 465.12x
Bothwell 2 37.74x
Aston 1 2.38x
Barony 1 2.02x
Cheetham 1 18.69x
Farnborough 1 76.92x
Glasgow 1 2.88x
Mile End Old Town 1 10.47x
Northfleet 1 54.95x
Paddington London 1 4.50x
Toxteth Park 1 4.12x
West Derby 1 4.76x
Westgate 1 17.95x
York Holy Trinity 1 192.31x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Catherine 1
Elizabeth 1
Elizth. 1
Ellen 1
Fanny 1
Jane 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Margaret 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Bernard 1
Felix 1
John 1
Patrick 1
Thomas 1
William 1

Top occupations

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 Torley households.

FAQ

Torley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Torley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 62 people were recorded with the Torley surname. That placed it at #24,843 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Torley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 261 in 2016. That gives Torley a modern rank of #16,309.

What does the Torley surname mean?

A habitational surname derived from a place name in England.

What does the Torley map show?

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