NameCensus.

UK surname

Townsley

From an English place name meaning "Townie's meadow," referring to a person from a town or village.

In the 1881 census there were 586 people recorded with the Townsley surname, ranking it #5,952 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,702, ranked #3,668, up from #5,952 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Harrington, Gateshead and Brotherton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hillyland, Tulloch and Inveralmond, Campbeltown and Greater Lochgilphead.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Townsley is 1,702 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 190.4%.

1881 census count

586

Ranked #5,952

Modern count

1,702

2016, ranked #3,668

Peak year

2016

1,702 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Townsley had 586 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,952 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,702 in 2016, ranked #3,668.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 836 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Townsley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Townsley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Townsley 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 262 #8,456
1861 historical 340 #7,497
1881 historical 586 #5,952
1891 historical 735 #5,398
1901 historical 836 #5,432
1911 historical 718 #5,952
1997 modern 1,508 #3,888
1998 modern 1,532 #3,980
1999 modern 1,560 #3,948
2000 modern 1,504 #4,058
2001 modern 1,453 #4,096
2002 modern 1,527 #4,008
2003 modern 1,495 #4,012
2004 modern 1,480 #4,051
2005 modern 1,511 #3,938
2006 modern 1,526 #3,900
2007 modern 1,550 #3,878
2008 modern 1,574 #3,841
2009 modern 1,649 #3,786
2010 modern 1,695 #3,772
2011 modern 1,664 #3,785
2012 modern 1,649 #3,738
2013 modern 1,665 #3,770
2014 modern 1,689 #3,737
2015 modern 1,698 #3,689
2016 modern 1,702 #3,668

Geography

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Where Townsleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Harrington, Gateshead, Brotherton, Glasgow and Bradford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hillyland, Tulloch and Inveralmond, Campbeltown, Greater Lochgilphead, Blairgowrie East (Rattray) and Letham. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Harrington Cumberland
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Brotherton Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hillyland, Tulloch and Inveralmond Perth and Kinross
2 Campbeltown Argyll and Bute
3 Greater Lochgilphead Argyll and Bute
4 Blairgowrie East (Rattray) Perth and Kinross
5 Letham Perth and Kinross

Forenames

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First names often paired with Townsley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Townsley

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Townsley, 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 Townsley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Townsley 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Townsley 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

Townsley 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

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

Meaning and origin of Townsley

The surname Townsley originated in England during the 12th century. It is a habitation name derived from the Old English words "tun" meaning an enclosure or village, and "ley" meaning a meadow or clearing. The name likely referred to someone who lived in a meadow near a village or town.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Townsley can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Nottinghamshire from 1176, where it was spelled as "Tuneslega". This suggests that the name was already established in the English Midlands by the late 12th century.

During the 13th century, variations of the name such as "Tunsleye" and "Townesleye" appeared in various county records across England, indicating that the name had spread to other regions.

In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, a certain William Townsley was listed as a landowner in Derbyshire, providing evidence of the name's presence in the East Midlands during that period.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was John Townsley, who was born in Yorkshire around 1420. He served as a member of the Yorkshire gentry and was recorded in the Yorkshire Visitation of 1585.

During the 16th century, the Townsley family established itself in Lancashire, where they became prominent landowners. Sir Richard Townsley (1537-1599), a member of this Lancashire branch, was a notable figure who served as High Sheriff of Lancashire in 1592.

In the 17th century, the Townsley name appeared in various parish records across England, including those of Cheshire, Staffordshire, and Warwickshire, indicating the widespread distribution of the name.

A notable bearer of the Townsley name was Sir Roger Townsley (1628-1707), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Yorkshire. He served as the Lord Mayor of York in 1688 and was knighted by King William III in 1698.

Another prominent individual was Reverend Joseph Townsley (1739-1816), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Malpas in Cheshire. He published several works on theology and history during his lifetime.

Throughout its history, the Townsley surname has been associated with various notable individuals, including scholars, clergymen, merchants, and landowners, reflecting its widespread presence across different regions of England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Townsley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Townsley 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. Yorkshire leads with 309 Townsleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.46x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 309 5.46x
Middlesex 34 0.60x
Lancashire 32 0.47x
Lanarkshire 27 1.46x
Cumberland 24 4.88x
Northumberland 21 2.47x
Argyllshire 20 12.59x
Midlothian 18 2.35x
Ayrshire 17 3.98x
Perthshire 11 4.29x
Renfrewshire 11 2.49x
Aberdeenshire 9 1.70x
Durham 9 0.53x
Kirkcudbrightshire 8 9.68x
Leicestershire 6 0.95x
Stirlingshire 6 2.85x
Glamorgan 5 0.50x
Buteshire 3 8.68x
Essex 3 0.27x
Hampshire 3 0.26x
Northamptonshire 2 0.37x
Staffordshire 2 0.10x
Surrey 2 0.07x
Berwickshire 1 1.45x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.65x
Gloucestershire 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 75 Townsleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.49x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 75 23.49x
Brotherton 23 1013.22x
Batley 22 40.94x
Shipley 19 64.74x
Islington London 14 2.53x
Murton 14 1609.20x
Glasgow 13 3.97x
Crompton 12 62.24x
Skipwith 12 2222.22x
Caputh 11 272.95x
Renfrew 11 75.34x
Castleford 10 48.57x
Dalkeith 10 66.31x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 9 9.10x
Harrington 9 151.77x
Horton In Bradford 9 10.19x
Lofthouse Cum Carlton 9 130.62x
Reeth 9 642.86x
St George In East 9 23.18x
Workington 9 31.99x
Cawood 8 368.66x
Great Little Marsden 8 25.79x
Conisbrough 7 131.83x
Horbury 7 70.78x
Kilbirnie 7 68.23x
Knottingley 7 70.42x
Seghill 7 168.27x
Westoe 7 7.27x
Aylestone 6 120.24x
Balby Cum Hexthorpe 6 88.89x
Coylton 6 99.01x
Dunoon Kilmun 6 48.43x
Ecclesall Bierlow 6 5.22x
Newabbey 6 338.98x
North Duffield 6 821.92x
Strachur Stralachlan 6 458.02x
Wakefield 6 13.82x
Whitehaven 6 22.91x
Hunslet 5 5.67x
Liverpool 5 1.22x
Manningham 5 7.18x
Sculcoates 5 5.58x
Shettleston 5 30.27x
Allerton Bywater 4 130.72x
Gomersal 4 15.16x
Goole 4 42.19x
Knapdale South 4 73.26x
Newton 4 7.66x
St Pancras London 4 0.87x
Stevenston 4 35.94x
Swansea Town 4 4.91x
Alverstoke 3 7.09x
Bowling 3 5.36x
Dalziel 3 15.11x
Ecclesfield 3 7.24x
Edinburgh St Johns 3 62.24x
Govan 3 0.66x
Kingarth 3 120.97x
Morley 3 10.20x
Shitlington 3 51.28x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 2 9.74x
Balfron 2 76.92x
Balmaghie 2 110.50x
Bolton In Bradford 2 55.10x
Brightside Bierlow 2 1.80x
Edinburgh New 2 33.67x
Edinburgh New North 2 30.08x
Grangemouth 2 740.74x
Great Doddington 2 172.41x
Headingley Cum Burley 2 5.49x
Holy Trinity St Mary 2 23.23x
Kilcalmonell Kilberry 2 222.22x
Leigh 2 51.02x
New Monkland 2 3.67x
Paddington London 2 0.95x
Tanshelf 2 44.25x
Thorganby Cum West 2 253.16x
Wednesbury 2 4.15x
Campsie 1 8.66x
Ryton Woodside 1 47.17x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 38
Sarah 27
Elizabeth 17
Ann 15
Emma 10
Jane 10
Alice 7
Hannah 7
Annie 5
Ellen 5
Louisa 5
Eliza 4
Fanny 4
Florence 4
Catherine 3
Emily 3
Margaret 3
Martha 3
Charlotte 2
Harriet 2
Jemima 2
Johanna 2
Maria 2
Anna 1
Betsey 1
Biecca 1
Caroline 1
Catharine 1
Celia 1
Christina 1
Dinah 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Elizaberth 1
Elizan. 1
Elizebeth 1
Ella 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Florrie 1
Frances 1
Gertrude 1
Henrietta 1
Isabella 1
Kathleen 1
Lilly 1
Louise 1
M.O. 1
Mabel 1
William 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 28
William 27
Thomas 21
George 20
James 14
Joseph 12
Robert 10
Charles 7
Richard 7
Arthur 6
Henry 6
Edward 5
Albert 4
Francis 4
Fred 4
Walter 4
Alfred 3
Frank 3
Harry 3
Benjamin 2
Jonathan 2
Samuel 2
Tom 2
Benjn. 1
Charls 1
Chas. 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Dick 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Frances 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Hannah 1
Herbert 1
Hugh 1
Infant 1
Isaac 1
Israel 1
Jas. 1
Major 1
Mark 1
Martin 1
Nelson 1
Oswald 1
Sam 1
Saml. 1
Sydney 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Townsley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Townsley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 586 people were recorded with the Townsley surname. That placed it at #5,952 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Townsley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,702 in 2016. That gives Townsley a modern rank of #3,668.

What does the Townsley surname mean?

From an English place name meaning "Townie's meadow," referring to a person from a town or village.

What does the Townsley map show?

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