UK surname
An English locational surname derived from places called "Waley" or similar.
In the 1881 census there were 48 people recorded with the Waley surname, ranking it #26,869 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 51, ranked #34,838, down from #26,869 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Stockport, Moulton and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Waley is 184 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 6.3%.
1881 census count
48
Ranked #26,869
Modern count
51
2016, ranked #34,838
Peak year
1861
184 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Waley surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Waley surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 77 | #19,998 |
| 1861 | historical | 184 | #12,856 |
| 1881 | historical | 48 | #26,869 |
| 1891 | historical | 105 | #23,241 |
| 1901 | historical | 84 | #24,759 |
| 1911 | historical | 58 | #27,001 |
| 1997 | modern | 44 | #33,275 |
| 1998 | modern | 44 | #33,462 |
| 1999 | modern | 47 | #33,320 |
| 2000 | modern | 51 | #32,999 |
| 2001 | modern | 47 | #33,219 |
| 2002 | modern | 44 | #33,790 |
| 2003 | modern | 42 | #34,040 |
| 2004 | modern | 48 | #33,742 |
| 2005 | modern | 46 | #34,081 |
| 2006 | modern | 49 | #34,152 |
| 2007 | modern | 46 | #34,634 |
| 2008 | modern | 47 | #34,699 |
| 2009 | modern | 44 | #35,028 |
| 2010 | modern | 45 | #35,130 |
| 2011 | modern | 48 | #34,926 |
| 2012 | modern | 41 | #35,328 |
| 2013 | modern | 47 | #35,071 |
| 2014 | modern | 49 | #34,991 |
| 2015 | modern | 52 | #34,775 |
| 2016 | modern | 51 | #34,838 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Stockport, Moulton, London parishes, Yaxley and Gateshead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stockport | Cheshire |
| 2 | Moulton | Lincolnshire |
| 3 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 4 | Yaxley | Northamptonshire |
| 5 | Gateshead | Durham |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Waley surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Waley, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Waley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Waley household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Waley is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Waley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Waley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname WALEY originated in England during the late medieval period. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from a place called Waleye or Walley, which was likely located in one of the northern counties of England. The name may have its roots in the Old English words "walh," meaning foreigner or stranger, and "leah," meaning a woodland clearing or meadow.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire from the year 1199, where a Richard de Waleye is mentioned. The surname also appears in various other historical records, such as the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where a John de Waley is listed as residing in Oxfordshire.
During the 13th and 14th centuries, the WALEY surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Cheshire. The Whalley Abbey in Lancashire, founded in the 12th century, may have contributed to the widespread use of the name in that region.
One notable bearer of the WALEY surname was Sir Thomas Waley (c. 1480 - 1554), an English politician and landowner who served as the High Sheriff of Lancashire in 1533. Another individual of historical significance was Arthur Walley (1590 - 1668), an English clergyman and scholar who served as the Archdeacon of Barnstaple.
In the 17th century, a branch of the WALEY family migrated to the American colonies, with William Waley (1623 - 1699) being among the earliest recorded settlers bearing this surname in Virginia. He was a prominent figure in the early colonial government and served as a member of the House of Burgesses.
Other notable individuals with the WALEY surname include Arthur Waley (1889 - 1966), a renowned English orientalist and translator of Chinese and Japanese literature, and Geoffrey Waley (1905 - 1986), a British archaeologist and expert on medieval pottery.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Waley surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 15 Waleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.20x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 15 | 3.20x |
| Yorkshire | 10 | 2.16x |
| Buckinghamshire | 8 | 28.28x |
| Cheshire | 2 | 1.94x |
| Leicestershire | 2 | 3.85x |
| Northamptonshire | 2 | 4.54x |
| Sussex | 2 | 2.53x |
| Essex | 1 | 1.08x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 1.09x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 1.04x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.18x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 1.34x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 1.44x |
| Suffolk | 1 | 1.75x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Womersley in Yorkshire leads with 8 Waleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 13333.33x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Womersley | 8 | 13333.33x |
| St Pancras London | 5 | 13.27x |
| Stony Stratford West | 5 | 2631.58x |
| Shadwell London | 4 | 305.34x |
| Amersham | 2 | 500.00x |
| Chelsea London | 2 | 14.18x |
| Fulham London | 2 | 29.46x |
| Loughborough | 2 | 85.11x |
| Northampton Priory St | 2 | 75.76x |
| Belstead | 1 | 2000.00x |
| Billinghay | 1 | 434.78x |
| Birkenhead | 1 | 12.14x |
| Church | 1 | 128.21x |
| Clifton | 1 | 21.55x |
| Eastbourne | 1 | 27.55x |
| Ecclesall Bierlow | 1 | 10.60x |
| Halifax | 1 | 14.68x |
| Harrow On The Hill | 1 | 107.53x |
| Headley | 1 | 384.62x |
| Hockley | 1 | 1000.00x |
| Hove | 1 | 28.90x |
| Newcastle On Tyne All Sts | 1 | 24.04x |
| Northenden | 1 | 526.32x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 4.00x |
| Wycombe | 1 | 47.39x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Waley surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Waley surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Waley households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 7 |
| Bricklayer | 2 |
| Solicitor | 2 |
| Solicitors Daughter | 2 |
| Ag Lab Wid | 1 |
| Attendant Serv At St Andrews Hospital | 1 |
| Aug Lab | 1 |
| Boot Maker | 1 |
| Bricklayers Labourer | 1 |
| Carter | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Clockmaker | 1 |
| Cow Man (Ag Lab) | 1 |
| Dock Labourer | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| French Polisher | 1 |
| Gen Laborer | 1 |
| German Governess (Private) | 1 |
| Groom (D) | 1 |
| Hawker | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Lithographic Printer | 1 |
| No Occupation | 1 |
| Nurse (S M S) | 1 |
| Solicitors Wife | 1 |
| Warehouse Girl Button | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 48 people were recorded with the Waley surname. That placed it at #26,869 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 51 in 2016. That gives Waley a modern rank of #34,838.
An English locational surname derived from places called "Waley" or similar.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Waley bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.