NameCensus.

UK surname

Townley

From a place name meaning "Tuna's meadow," derived from the Old English personal name "Tuna" combined with "leah" (meadow).

In the 1881 census there were 1,890 people recorded with the Townley surname, ranking it #2,303 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,342, ranked #2,786, down from #2,303 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lancaster Borough, London parishes and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Craven, Lancaster and Tewkesbury.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Townley is 2,479 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 23.9%.

1881 census count

1,890

Ranked #2,303

Modern count

2,342

2016, ranked #2,786

Peak year

1911

2,479 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Townley had 1,890 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,303 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,342 in 2016, ranked #2,786.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,479 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Townley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Townley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Townley 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 1,316 #2,177
1861 historical 1,183 #2,397
1881 historical 1,890 #2,303
1891 historical 2,035 #2,270
1901 historical 2,322 #2,341
1911 historical 2,479 #2,072
1997 modern 2,277 #2,725
1998 modern 2,399 #2,706
1999 modern 2,383 #2,741
2000 modern 2,396 #2,709
2001 modern 2,345 #2,714
2002 modern 2,352 #2,755
2003 modern 2,301 #2,752
2004 modern 2,296 #2,755
2005 modern 2,275 #2,747
2006 modern 2,270 #2,754
2007 modern 2,291 #2,752
2008 modern 2,314 #2,753
2009 modern 2,363 #2,769
2010 modern 2,421 #2,761
2011 modern 2,387 #2,769
2012 modern 2,344 #2,769
2013 modern 2,377 #2,773
2014 modern 2,392 #2,775
2015 modern 2,355 #2,784
2016 modern 2,342 #2,786

Geography

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Where Townleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lancaster Borough, London parishes, Manchester and Blackburn. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Craven, Lancaster and Tewkesbury. 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 Lancaster Borough Lancashire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Blackburn Lancashire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Craven 001 Craven
2 Lancaster 019 Lancaster
3 Lancaster 002 Lancaster
4 Lancaster 017 Lancaster
5 Tewkesbury 005 Tewkesbury

Forenames

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First names often paired with Townley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Townley

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Townley 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

Townley 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

Townley falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Townley

The surname Townley is believed to have originated in England, deriving from the Old English words "tun" meaning "an enclosure or a village" and "leah" meaning "a meadow." It is a locational name, suggesting that the earliest bearers of the name hailed from a settlement or village situated in a meadow.

The name first appeared in historical records during the 12th century, with early variations of the spelling including Tunley, Towneley, and Townlay. The Domesday Book, the remarkable survey commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname Townley. However, it does mention several places with similar names, such as Tunlei in Derbyshire and Tonlei in Hertfordshire, which may have influenced the development of the surname.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lancashire from 1177, which mention a Richard de Towneley. This suggests that the name was already established in Lancashire by the late 12th century. The Townleys of Lancashire were a prominent family, owning lands and estates in the area for several centuries.

Notable bearers of the surname Townley include Sir Richard Townley (1591-1647), a Member of Parliament for Lancashire during the English Civil War, and his son, Sir John Townley (1620-1647), who fought on the Royalist side during the same conflict. Another noteworthy individual was Charles Townley (1737-1805), a renowned art collector and benefactor whose collection formed the foundation of the British Museum's classical sculpture collection.

In the literary realm, Charles Townley (1798-1876), an English author and journalist, gained recognition for his works on British history and his contributions to various publications. Additionally, Reverend James Townley (1774-1833), an English clergyman and author, is remembered for his religious writings and sermons.

While the surname Townley has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including North America and Australia, due to emigration and settlement patterns. However, the earliest recorded examples and historical references undoubtedly trace the name's origins back to its English beginnings.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Townley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Townley 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. Lancashire leads with 909 Townleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.16x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 909 4.16x
Middlesex 150 0.81x
Cheshire 96 2.36x
Gloucestershire 91 2.52x
Yorkshire 85 0.47x
Northamptonshire 59 3.41x
Oxfordshire 55 4.84x
Kent 44 0.70x
Westmorland 44 10.87x
Staffordshire 40 0.64x
Surrey 38 0.42x
Warwickshire 34 0.73x
Derbyshire 20 0.69x
Essex 18 0.50x
Hampshire 18 0.48x
Leicestershire 16 0.78x
Renfrewshire 15 1.05x
Norfolk 13 0.46x
Sussex 13 0.42x
Cambridgeshire 11 0.94x
Worcestershire 11 0.46x
Lanarkshire 10 0.17x
Pembrokeshire 9 1.54x
Argyllshire 7 1.37x
Cumberland 7 0.44x
Glamorgan 7 0.22x
Monmouthshire 7 0.53x
Somerset 7 0.24x
Wigtownshire 7 2.86x
Durham 6 0.11x
Fife 6 0.55x
Devon 4 0.10x
Midlothian 4 0.16x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.16x
Dunbartonshire 3 0.61x
Merionethshire 3 0.89x
Northumberland 3 0.11x
Denbighshire 2 0.29x
Hertfordshire 2 0.16x
Shropshire 2 0.13x
Bedfordshire 1 0.10x
Berkshire 1 0.07x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.09x
Cardiganshire 1 0.22x
Clackmannanshire 1 0.66x
Herefordshire 1 0.13x
Stirlingshire 1 0.15x
Suffolk 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Blackburn in Lancashire leads with 111 Townleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.09x.

Place Total Index
Blackburn 111 19.09x
Over Darwen 59 33.80x
Manchester 58 5.90x
Lancaster 42 32.30x
Oswaldtwistle 42 54.39x
Hulme 33 7.23x
Preston 33 5.64x
Everton 28 4.02x
Skerton 28 156.08x
Cheltenham 27 9.69x
Salford 27 4.20x
Bromley London 25 6.17x
West Derby 24 3.75x
Bury 21 8.41x
Kendal 21 28.34x
Newton 21 12.47x
Liverpool 19 1.43x
Birmingham 17 1.10x
Bradford 17 16.62x
Congleton 17 24.20x
Hook Norton 17 218.23x
Stoke Upon Trent 17 2.58x
Caton 16 233.58x
Burford 15 151.98x
Dalton In Furness 15 17.78x
Earls Barton 15 101.49x
Shoreditch London 15 1.88x
Chatham 14 8.10x
Portsea 14 1.89x
St Marylebone London 14 1.42x
Tewkesbury 14 43.44x
Edgbaston 13 9.03x
Hollingworth 13 77.57x
Outwell 13 236.79x
Pemberton 13 14.92x
West Ham 13 1.62x
Accrington 12 6.04x
Plumstead 12 5.73x
Stretford 12 9.98x
Tranmere 12 8.03x
Bentham 11 79.08x
Charlton Kings 11 44.02x
Hackney London 11 1.07x
Monks Coppenhall 11 7.17x
Abbey 10 4.59x
Camberwell 10 0.85x
Charlbury 10 78.31x
Clerkenwell London 10 2.30x
Long Whatton 10 225.73x
Lower Darwen 10 34.87x
Northampton St Giles 10 15.15x
Poplar London 10 2.88x
Warrington 10 3.86x
Cheetham 9 5.52x
Chorlton On Medlock 9 2.59x
Holy Trinity 9 2.05x
Islington London 9 0.50x
Northampton Priory St 9 8.66x
Stockport 9 4.30x
Whilton 9 403.59x
Ardwick 8 4.06x
Burslem 8 4.49x
Dukinfield 8 4.26x
Glasgow 8 0.76x
Gorton 8 3.89x
Huddersfield 8 3.01x
Pilkington 8 9.64x
Ratcliffe London 8 7.87x
Beard Ollerset Whitle 7 36.90x
Bristol St George 7 4.19x
Castleton 7 3.21x
Cheadle 7 9.01x
Clitheroe 7 10.88x
Dunoon 7 66.35x
Holbeck 7 5.79x
Natland 7 386.74x
Pembroke St Mary 7 9.29x
Risca 7 27.89x
Southowram 7 12.57x
Walsall Foreign 7 2.18x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 126
Elizabeth 87
Sarah 66
Ann 39
Alice 38
Jane 31
Ellen 29
Margaret 28
Emma 25
Annie 23
Eliza 21
Hannah 21
Martha 18
Emily 16
Ada 14
Charlotte 12
Maria 12
Agnes 11
Florence 11
Louisa 10
Nancy 10
Eleanor 9
Harriet 9
Amelia 8
Betsy 8
Betty 8
Edith 8
Anne 7
Isabella 7
Bertha 6
Clara 6
Elizth. 6
Maud 6
Rose 6
Sophia 6
Esther 5
Frances 5
Grace 5
Kate 5
Lydia 5
Anna 4
Caroline 4
Harriett 4
Ruth 4
Amy 3
Bessie 3
Cecilia 3
Florance 3
Rachel 3
Rebecca 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 107
William 91
Thomas 84
James 62
Charles 48
George 42
Richard 38
Henry 35
Robert 33
Edward 25
Arthur 23
Samuel 20
Joseph 19
Frederick 16
Alfred 15
Albert 11
Frank 11
Walter 9
Wm. 9
Ernest 8
Ralph 8
Peter 7
Andrew 6
Edwin 6
Harry 6
Francis 5
Lawrence 5
Benjamin 4
Daniel 4
Fredrick 4
Richd. 4
Fred 3
Herbert 3
Jas. 3
Michael 3
Stephen 3
Thos. 3
Tom 3
Townley 3
Dan 2
Ed. 2
Edmund 2
Geo. 2
Matthew 2
Moses 2
Nelson 2
Percy 2
Reece 2
Roger 2
Squire 2

FAQ

Townley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Townley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,890 people were recorded with the Townley surname. That placed it at #2,303 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Townley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,342 in 2016. That gives Townley a modern rank of #2,786.

What does the Townley surname mean?

From a place name meaning "Tuna's meadow," derived from the Old English personal name "Tuna" combined with "leah" (meadow).

What does the Townley map show?

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