NameCensus.

UK surname

Wardley

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "dweller by the watchful field."

In the 1881 census there were 743 people recorded with the Wardley surname, ranking it #4,937 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 809, ranked #6,850, down from #4,937 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Warsop and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Uttlesford, Sheffield and Ipswich.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wardley is 1,005 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 8.9%.

1881 census count

743

Ranked #4,937

Modern count

809

2016, ranked #6,850

Peak year

1911

1,005 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wardley had 743 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,937 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 809 in 2016, ranked #6,850.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,005 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Wardley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wardley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wardley 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 514 #4,864
1861 historical 596 #4,445
1881 historical 743 #4,937
1891 historical 842 #4,845
1901 historical 886 #5,198
1911 historical 1,005 #4,528
1997 modern 890 #6,012
1998 modern 895 #6,186
1999 modern 906 #6,169
2000 modern 883 #6,259
2001 modern 868 #6,229
2002 modern 890 #6,233
2003 modern 852 #6,333
2004 modern 846 #6,376
2005 modern 836 #6,377
2006 modern 831 #6,419
2007 modern 835 #6,473
2008 modern 838 #6,508
2009 modern 837 #6,646
2010 modern 860 #6,632
2011 modern 855 #6,580
2012 modern 817 #6,724
2013 modern 829 #6,754
2014 modern 814 #6,882
2015 modern 809 #6,860
2016 modern 809 #6,850

Geography

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Where Wardleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Warsop, Manchester, Preston and Dalton-in-Furness. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Uttlesford, Sheffield, Ipswich and North East Derbyshire. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Warsop Nottinghamshire
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Preston Lancashire
5 Dalton-in-Furness Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Uttlesford 002 Uttlesford
2 Sheffield 024 Sheffield
3 Ipswich 013 Ipswich
4 Ipswich 016 Ipswich
5 North East Derbyshire 001 North East Derbyshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wardley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wardley

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Wardley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Wardley household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Wardley 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

Wardley is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Wardley falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Wardley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Wardley

The surname Wardley is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is a locational name derived from a place called Wardley, which was a small hamlet located near Rochdale in Greater Manchester. The name itself is believed to have originated from the Old English words "weard" meaning "watch" or "guard" and "leah" meaning "woodland" or "clearing".

Wardley was first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Wardlei", indicating the presence of a settlement with that name during the Norman conquest of England. The earliest known bearer of the surname was Robertus de Wardlei, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Lancashire in 1199.

Over the centuries, the name has undergone various spelling variations, including Wardeley, Wardleigh, and Wardly, reflecting the inconsistencies in record-keeping and pronunciation at the time. One notable individual bearing this surname was Sir Ralph Wardley (1469-1537), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Manchester who served as Mayor of the city in 1514.

Another prominent figure was John Wardley (1634-1695), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works, including "The Christian's Pattern" and "The Contemplative Man's Recreation". He was born in Cheshire and served as the Rector of Woodham Ferrers in Essex.

In the 18th century, James Wardley (1700-1782) gained recognition as a notable clockmaker from Lancashire. His clocks were highly regarded for their craftsmanship and precision, and some of his works can still be found in museums and private collections.

Moving into the 19th century, William Wardley (1809-1883) was a prominent English architect who designed several notable buildings in Manchester, including the Assize Courts and the Royal Manchester Institution. He was also responsible for the restoration of several historic churches in the region.

Lastly, Sir Harry Wardley (1895-1976) was a British businessman and philanthropist who made his fortune in the textile industry. He was knighted in 1955 for his contributions to industry and his charitable work, particularly in supporting educational institutions and hospitals.

Throughout its history, the surname Wardley has been closely associated with the northern counties of England, particularly Lancashire and Greater Manchester, where it originated. While not among the most common surnames, it has left a notable mark in various fields, from religion and architecture to business and clockmaking.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wardley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wardley 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 249 Wardleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.86x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 249 2.86x
Suffolk 113 12.66x
Yorkshire 77 1.06x
Nottinghamshire 61 6.18x
Middlesex 51 0.70x
Derbyshire 46 4.01x
Surrey 33 0.92x
Kent 20 0.80x
Essex 19 1.31x
Cheshire 13 0.80x
Staffordshire 13 0.53x
Channel Islands 10 4.61x
Westmorland 10 6.21x
Leicestershire 9 1.11x
Northamptonshire 6 0.87x
Durham 4 0.18x
Cumberland 3 0.48x
Shropshire 3 0.47x
Hampshire 2 0.13x
Lincolnshire 2 0.17x
Warwickshire 2 0.11x
Dorset 1 0.21x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.60x
Norfolk 1 0.09x
Northumberland 1 0.09x
Royal Navy 1 1.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 23 Wardleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.24x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 23 3.24x
Sheffield 20 8.65x
Warsop 18 687.02x
Blaxhall 17 1317.83x
Ipswich St Clement 17 74.96x
Lambeth 17 2.66x
Whitwell 17 372.81x
Habergham Eaves 16 20.14x
Dalton In Furness 15 44.70x
Preston 14 6.02x
Wolverhampton 12 6.31x
Ecclesall Bierlow 11 7.45x
Little Bolton 11 9.84x
Oldham 11 3.92x
Scarcliff 11 709.68x
West Derby 11 4.33x
Cavendish 10 347.22x
Ipswich St Peter 10 83.26x
Manchester 10 2.56x
Nether Hallam 10 10.18x
Nottingham St Mary 10 3.92x
Blackley 9 59.06x
Cheetham 9 13.88x
Moston 9 103.21x
Pendleton In Salford 9 8.69x
Yoxford 9 338.35x
Broughton In Salford 8 10.06x
Cliffe 8 141.84x
Crumpsall 8 39.04x
Gorton 8 9.79x
Killamarsh 8 112.20x
Salford 8 3.13x
St Peter Port 8 19.92x
Waldringfield 8 1176.47x
Warsop Soulkholme 8 1000.00x
Worsley 8 14.93x
East Donyland 7 201.15x
Great Bolton 7 6.08x
Leyton 7 28.10x
St Pancras London 7 1.19x
Steeton 7 3888.89x
Tunstall 7 454.55x
Altrincham 6 21.23x
Basford 6 13.18x
Blackburn 6 2.59x
Darcy Lever 6 119.76x
Hendon 6 22.76x
Kendal 6 20.36x
Martlesham 6 480.00x
Openshaw 6 14.74x
Over Darwen 6 8.64x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 6 17.79x
Battersea 5 1.85x
Brightside Bierlow 5 3.51x
Church 5 40.72x
Farnsfield 5 190.84x
Ipswich St Margaret 5 16.51x
Newington 5 1.85x
Northampton All Sts 5 21.39x
Norton 5 52.91x
Plumstead 5 6.00x
St Andrew By Wardrobe 5 1136.36x
Stretford 5 10.45x
Thorndon All Sts 5 312.50x
Tonbridge 5 5.55x
Accrington 4 5.06x
Barnsley 4 5.34x
Doncaster 4 7.54x
Lutterworth 4 80.81x
Mansfield 4 11.71x
Snenton 4 10.31x
Spotland 4 4.14x
Barrow In Furness 3 2.54x
Higher Booths 3 19.14x
Hyde 3 6.29x
Lancaster 3 5.80x
Leicester St Mary 3 4.57x
Newton In Makerfield 3 11.27x
Ulverston 3 11.85x
Westminster St John 3 3.36x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 37
Mary 35
Sarah 33
Ann 16
Eliza 14
Alice 13
Jane 11
Annie 10
Ellen 10
Emma 10
Hannah 10
Martha 8
Emily 7
Louisa 7
Lucy 6
Margaret 5
Agnes 4
Edith 4
Fanny 4
Frances 4
Gertrude 4
Harriet 4
Harriett 4
Isabella 4
Rebecca 4
Ada 3
Amy 3
Catherine 3
Kate 3
Lydia 3
Rachel 3
Amelia 2
Bridget 2
Caroline 2
Charlotte 2
Clara 2
Eleanor 2
Florence 2
Jessie 2
Julia 2
Marian 2
Minnie 2
Susannah 2
Bertha 1
Betsy 1
Elizth. 1
Elrilder 1
Emly 1
Jemima 1
Susnah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 53
John 44
James 32
Thomas 25
Henry 24
George 23
Joseph 19
Charles 14
Samuel 11
Arthur 8
Edward 7
Isaac 7
Alfred 6
Geo. 6
Harry 6
Richard 5
Albert 4
Frederick 4
Luke 4
Wm. 4
Joshua 3
Walter 3
Bernard 2
David 2
Edgar 2
Edmund 2
Frank 2
Fredk. 2
Herbert 2
Jas. 2
Jervis 2
Levi 2
Mark 2
Percy 2
Robert 2
Saml. 2
Stephen 2
Sydney 2
Thos. 2
Ashton 1
Charley 1
Chas. 1
Chas.W. 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Fredk.A. 1
Geo.G.Farewell 1
Josiah 1
Leonard 1
Lewis 1

FAQ

Wardley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wardley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 743 people were recorded with the Wardley surname. That placed it at #4,937 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wardley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 809 in 2016. That gives Wardley a modern rank of #6,850.

What does the Wardley surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "dweller by the watchful field."

What does the Wardley map show?

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