NameCensus.

UK surname

Uttley

A locational surname derived from a place name, likely referring to someone from a location called Uttley.

In the 1881 census there were 1,454 people recorded with the Uttley surname, ranking it #2,862 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,344, ranked #4,486, down from #2,862 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Halifax and Bradford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Calderdale and Rotherham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Uttley is 1,906 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 7.6%.

1881 census count

1,454

Ranked #2,862

Modern count

1,344

2016, ranked #4,486

Peak year

1911

1,906 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Uttley had 1,454 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,862 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,344 in 2016, ranked #4,486.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,906 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Uttley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Uttley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Uttley 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 778 #3,430
1861 historical 808 #3,405
1881 historical 1,454 #2,862
1891 historical 1,551 #2,849
1901 historical 1,796 #2,913
1911 historical 1,906 #2,604
1997 modern 1,353 #4,251
1998 modern 1,390 #4,302
1999 modern 1,399 #4,302
2000 modern 1,393 #4,300
2001 modern 1,359 #4,304
2002 modern 1,370 #4,366
2003 modern 1,306 #4,467
2004 modern 1,296 #4,497
2005 modern 1,286 #4,476
2006 modern 1,312 #4,414
2007 modern 1,300 #4,485
2008 modern 1,335 #4,411
2009 modern 1,368 #4,403
2010 modern 1,397 #4,410
2011 modern 1,367 #4,439
2012 modern 1,344 #4,439
2013 modern 1,362 #4,468
2014 modern 1,368 #4,480
2015 modern 1,364 #4,438
2016 modern 1,344 #4,486

Geography

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Where Uttleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Halifax, Bradford and Keighley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Calderdale and Rotherham. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Rochdale Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Keighley Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Calderdale 013 Calderdale
2 Rotherham 009 Rotherham
3 Calderdale 004 Calderdale
4 Calderdale 022 Calderdale
5 Calderdale 007 Calderdale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Uttley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Uttley

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Uttley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Uttley household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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, Uttley 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

Uttley is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Uttley 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 Uttley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Uttley

The surname Uttley originates from England and dates back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "ut" meaning "out" and "lēah" meaning "a meadow or clearing in a forest." This suggests that the name was likely given to someone who lived or worked in a clearing outside of a village or town.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Uttley can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire from the year 1332, which mentions a "Robertus de Vtteley." This spelling variation, along with others like "Utley" and "Utteley," was common in medieval times due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions.

The Uttley surname has its roots in various places across England, particularly in Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Cheshire, where it was closely associated with the local topography and place names. For instance, the village of Utley in West Yorkshire is believed to have derived its name from the same Old English words that gave rise to the surname.

In the 16th century, the Uttley name appeared in the Wills and Inventories of the Archdeaconry of Richmond, Yorkshire, further cementing its presence in the region. One notable figure from this period was William Uttley, born in 1545 in Keighley, Yorkshire, who was a prominent landowner and farmer.

Throughout history, several individuals bearing the Uttley surname have made significant contributions in various fields. Thomas Uttley (1684-1761), a renowned English mathematician and astronomer, was born in Longridge, Lancashire, and made important observations of the transit of Venus across the Sun's disk. Another notable figure was Alison Uttley (1884-1976), a prolific children's author from Derbyshire, who wrote over 100 books, including the beloved "Little Grey Rabbit" series.

In the 19th century, the Uttley name gained prominence with individuals such as John Uttley (1813-1888), a successful businessman and philanthropist from Leeds, Yorkshire, who made significant contributions to the local community. James Uttley (1843-1902), born in Rochdale, Lancashire, was a prominent architect responsible for designing several notable buildings in the region.

Lastly, the 20th century saw the rise of Tom Uttley (1915-1991), a renowned English cricketer who played for both Yorkshire and England, earning recognition as one of the finest slow left-arm bowlers of his era.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Uttley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Uttley 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 928 Uttleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.65x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 928 6.65x
Lancashire 461 2.76x
Durham 19 0.45x
Cheshire 11 0.35x
Hampshire 9 0.31x
Middlesex 5 0.04x
Norfolk 3 0.14x
Lincolnshire 2 0.09x
Surrey 2 0.03x
Dorset 1 0.11x
Northamptonshire 1 0.08x
Sussex 1 0.04x
Worcestershire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stansfield in Yorkshire leads with 119 Uttleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 231.65x.

Place Total Index
Stansfield 119 231.65x
Heptonstall 110 561.51x
Spotland 93 50.05x
Todmorden Walsden 74 165.25x
Halifax 50 24.40x
Sowerby In Halifax 42 92.02x
Ovenden 39 62.78x
Blatchinworth 37 97.21x
Haworth 37 111.51x
Wadsworth 33 145.25x
Northowram 29 29.63x
Habergham Eaves 28 18.33x
Warley 26 64.45x
Greasbrough 24 130.22x
Wentworth 21 243.06x
Bradford 20 5.92x
Horton In Bradford 20 9.18x
Barnsley 19 13.20x
Castleton 18 10.78x
Langfield 18 73.71x
Sheffield 17 3.83x
Midgley 16 107.60x
Skircoat 16 29.07x
Wardleworth 16 16.75x
Great Little Marsden 15 19.59x
Kimberworth 14 18.07x
Bingley 13 14.62x
Ecclesfield 13 12.70x
Keighley 13 8.74x
Butterworth 12 29.47x
Crompton 12 25.21x
Hoyland Nether 12 35.06x
Leeds 12 1.52x
Newchurch 12 8.78x
Layton With Warbreck 11 17.93x
Padiham 11 27.24x
Bradfield 10 18.58x
Brightside Bierlow 10 3.65x
Clifford Cum Boston 10 79.68x
Wigan 10 4.28x
Clayton 9 26.35x
Nether Hallam 9 4.77x
Shipley 9 12.42x
Blackburn 8 1.80x
Brampton Bierlow 8 44.77x
Erringden 8 88.69x
Holbeck 8 8.65x
Cheetham 7 5.61x
Dukinfield 7 4.87x
Moston 7 41.74x
Soyland 7 41.79x
Trawden 7 66.92x
Wuerdle Wardle 7 13.80x
Broughton In Salford 6 3.93x
Darlington 6 3.71x
Ecclesall Bierlow 6 2.11x
Middleton In Oldham 6 11.97x
Norland 6 62.63x
Rusholme 6 13.46x
Southowram 6 14.08x
Thornton In Bradford 6 12.91x
Wath On Dearne 6 21.54x
Almondbury 5 7.41x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 5 3.85x
Huddersfield 5 2.46x
Hunslet 5 2.30x
Lower Booths 5 16.69x
Oldham 5 0.93x
Portsea 5 0.88x
Rotherham 5 6.35x
Wakefield 5 4.67x
West Derby 5 1.02x
Wortley In Wortley 5 91.07x
Ashton Under Lyne 4 1.10x
Bowling 4 2.89x
Elland Cum Greetland 4 6.36x
Newton In Ashton Under 4 13.04x
North Meols 4 2.44x
Stockton On Tees 4 1.98x
Westoe 4 1.68x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 125
Sarah 80
Elizabeth 50
Hannah 34
Emma 28
Alice 27
Jane 26
Ann 23
Betty 22
Martha 21
Eliza 20
Ellen 18
Emily 18
Grace 18
Annie 15
Ada 13
Betsy 10
Charlotte 9
Clara 8
Harriet 8
Margaret 8
Susannah 8
Edith 7
Fanny 7
Frances 7
Ruth 7
Susan 7
Louisa 5
Maria 5
Esther 4
Florence 4
Isabella 4
Rebecca 4
Sally 4
Amelia 3
Lucy 3
Nancy 3
Amy 2
Anne 2
Dora 2
Eliz. 2
Ethel 2
Francis 2
Julia 2
Kate 2
Malley 2
Nanny 2
Priscilla 2
Rachel 2
Rosa 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 94
William 74
Thomas 45
James 40
Joseph 28
George 21
Arthur 16
Robert 13
Henry 12
Samuel 12
Albert 10
Alfred 10
Charles 10
David 10
Fred 10
Harry 10
Abraham 8
Frank 8
Herbert 8
Mark 8
Richard 8
Sam 8
Edwin 7
Edward 6
Frederick 6
Greenwood 6
Jonas 6
Michael 6
Walter 6
Wm. 6
Benjamin 4
Cornelius 4
Isaac 4
Jesse 4
Luke 4
Thos. 4
Tom 4
Willie 4
Young 4
Daniel 3
Ernest 3
Fred. 3
Jacob 3
Jno. 3
Jonathan 3
Joshua 3
Oliver 3
Wright 3
Edmund 2
Mitchell 2

FAQ

Uttley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Uttley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,454 people were recorded with the Uttley surname. That placed it at #2,862 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Uttley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,344 in 2016. That gives Uttley a modern rank of #4,486.

What does the Uttley surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name, likely referring to someone from a location called Uttley.

What does the Uttley map show?

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