NameCensus.

UK surname

Wasley

From a woodsy dwell or meadow.

In the 1881 census there were 439 people recorded with the Wasley surname, ranking it #7,455 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 511, ranked #9,834, down from #7,455 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet, and Deerhurst. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tewkesbury, Dudley and Stratford-on-Avon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wasley is 583 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 16.4%.

1881 census count

439

Ranked #7,455

Modern count

511

2016, ranked #9,834

Peak year

1911

583 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wasley had 439 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,455 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 511 in 2016, ranked #9,834.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 583 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Wasley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wasley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wasley 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 397 #6,070
1861 historical 453 #5,718
1881 historical 439 #7,455
1891 historical 457 #7,988
1901 historical 523 #7,790
1911 historical 583 #6,986
1997 modern 532 #8,887
1998 modern 541 #9,044
1999 modern 558 #8,885
2000 modern 564 #8,774
2001 modern 558 #8,709
2002 modern 566 #8,788
2003 modern 544 #8,922
2004 modern 534 #9,057
2005 modern 517 #9,217
2006 modern 524 #9,150
2007 modern 522 #9,254
2008 modern 527 #9,259
2009 modern 534 #9,377
2010 modern 539 #9,510
2011 modern 526 #9,598
2012 modern 516 #9,654
2013 modern 515 #9,804
2014 modern 517 #9,846
2015 modern 513 #9,836
2016 modern 511 #9,834

Geography

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Where Wasleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, Deerhurst, St Agnes and Gwennap. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Tewkesbury, Dudley, Stratford-on-Avon, Cornwall 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet, Gloucestershire
3 Deerhurst Gloucestershire
4 St Agnes Cornwall
5 Gwennap Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Tewkesbury 005 Tewkesbury
2 Dudley 039 Dudley
3 Stratford-on-Avon 009 Stratford-on-Avon
4 Cornwall 043 Cornwall
5 North East Derbyshire 013 North East Derbyshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wasley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wasley

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Wasley, 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 Wasley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Wasley 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, Wasley 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

Wasley 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

Wasley falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Wasley

The surname "Wasley" is of English origin, derived from the Old English words "waes" meaning "marsh" or "bog" and "leah" meaning "clearing" or "meadow." It is believed to have originated in the English counties of Cheshire and Shropshire during the 12th or 13th century.

The earliest known recorded instance of the name Wasley appears in the Pipe Rolls of Shropshire from the year 1272, where it is listed as "Waleslega." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived in or near a marshy clearing or meadow.

In the 14th century, variations of the name, such as "Walesleye" and "Walesley," can be found in various historical records, including the Subsidy Rolls of Cheshire from 1327 and the Hearth Tax Rolls of Shropshire from 1672.

Notable individuals with the surname Wasley throughout history include John Wasley, a farmer from Cheshire born in 1586, who is mentioned in the Chester Parish Registers of 1612. Another early bearer of the name was William Wasley, a landowner from Shropshire who was born in 1634 and whose name appears in the Shropshire Feet of Fines from 1672.

In the 18th century, a family of Wasleys resided in the village of Wem, Shropshire, where they owned a substantial estate. One member of this family, Thomas Wasley (1721-1798), served as a local magistrate and was instrumental in the construction of the parish church in Wem.

During the 19th century, the Wasley name spread beyond its traditional strongholds in Cheshire and Shropshire, with individuals bearing this surname found in various parts of England. Notable examples include Richard Wasley (1810-1887), a successful merchant from Liverpool, and James Wasley (1845-1924), a respected teacher and author from Yorkshire.

Throughout its history, the Wasley surname has maintained a strong connection to its geographical origins, with many bearers of the name still residing in the counties of Cheshire and Shropshire to this day.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wasley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wasley 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. Gloucestershire leads with 145 Wasleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.27x.

County Total Index
Gloucestershire 145 17.27x
Cornwall 99 20.42x
Worcestershire 48 8.58x
Glamorgan 24 3.22x
Lancashire 21 0.41x
Staffordshire 19 1.31x
Middlesex 13 0.30x
Yorkshire 13 0.31x
Hampshire 12 1.37x
Derbyshire 11 1.64x
Durham 7 0.55x
Devon 5 0.56x
Flintshire 5 4.34x
Surrey 5 0.24x
Warwickshire 4 0.37x
Monmouthshire 2 0.65x
Somerset 2 0.29x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.39x
Essex 1 0.12x
Kent 1 0.07x
Northumberland 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kenwyn in Cornwall leads with 28 Wasleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 220.82x.

Place Total Index
Kenwyn 28 220.82x
Cheltenham 18 27.78x
Kea 18 498.62x
Kingswinford 14 26.68x
Winchcomb 14 335.73x
Illogan 12 93.46x
Swansea Town 12 19.63x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 11 71.57x
Redruth 11 80.23x
Aldershot 10 34.01x
Brockworth 10 1538.46x
Tewkesbury 10 133.51x
Forthampton 8 1311.48x
Ystradyfodwg 8 12.23x
Boddington 7 1166.67x
Hartpury 7 593.22x
Ince In Makerfield 7 29.61x
Tanfield 7 46.20x
Worcester St Martin 7 92.84x
Great Malvern 6 51.41x
Holdfast Queenshill 6 2222.22x
Lower Booths 6 65.93x
Mickleover 6 289.86x
Spotland 6 10.62x
Stoke Prior 6 173.91x
Upton St Leonards 6 281.69x
Bishops Cleeve 5 234.74x
Deerhurst 5 409.84x
Kirkleatham 5 87.26x
Lambeth 5 1.34x
Norton 5 833.33x
Sandhurst 5 735.29x
Stoke Upon Trent 5 3.26x
Westminster St James 5 11.36x
Ashchurch 4 408.16x
Bodmin 4 49.88x
Broadway 4 165.98x
Down Hatherley 4 1428.57x
Falmouth 4 23.31x
Newland 4 56.66x
Radbourne 4 1081.08x
Staverton 4 1142.86x
Sutton 4 82.64x
Wendron 4 59.44x
Aberdare 3 5.86x
Broughton Hackett 3 1304.35x
Dudley 3 4.41x
Elmstone Hardwick 3 652.17x
Gwennap 3 32.79x
Holy Trinity Less 3 326.09x
Madron Penzance 3 17.02x
Mold Hendrebiffa 3 545.45x
Painswick 3 50.51x
Plymstock 3 64.24x
St Cleer 3 71.43x
West Dean 3 21.99x
Westminster St 3 19.00x
Andover 2 24.13x
Birmingham 2 0.56x
Eldersfield 2 227.27x
Gloucester Barton St 2 40.65x
Horsley 2 53.76x
Mold 2 19.16x
St Agnes 2 29.46x
St Clement 2 39.53x
St Ives 2 21.07x
Stoke Orchard 2 769.23x
Stratford On Avon 2 33.39x
Trevethin 2 6.84x
Ampleforth Oswaldkirk 1 238.10x
Bromsgrove 1 5.31x
Gloucester Holy Trinity 1 138.89x
Gloucester Kingsholm St 1 31.95x
Newchurch 1 2.41x
Pershore Holy Cross 1 27.93x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 1.46x
St Gluvias Penryn 1 25.77x
St Neot 1 52.36x
Wadsworth 1 14.47x
Wycombe 1 5.18x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 39
Elizabeth 17
Jane 15
Sarah 13
Ellen 10
Ann 8
Emma 8
Susan 8
Emily 7
Maria 6
Annie 5
Eliza 5
Martha 5
Esther 4
Caroline 3
Clara 3
Florence 3
Minnie 3
Ada 2
Alice 2
Anne 2
Bertha 2
Bessie 2
Catherine 2
Edith 2
Elisabeth 2
Grace 2
Hannah 2
Julia 2
Lilly 2
Louisa 2
Rosina 2
Agnes 1
Althea 1
Amey 1
Bessey 1
Charlotte 1
Eda 1
Emyla 1
Ethel 1
Francess 1
Gertrude 1
Harriett 1
Henrietta 1
Hetty 1
Isabella 1
Jessie 1
Kate 1
Leah 1
Liley 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 33
Henry 20
James 20
John 19
Thomas 16
Charles 13
George 9
Walter 5
Edwin 4
Frank 4
Frederick 4
Samuel 4
Albert 3
Edward 3
Fredrick 3
Joseph 3
Josiah 3
Arthur 2
David 2
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Harry 2
Joel 2
Matthew 2
Richard 2
Wm. 2
Daniel 1
Emmanuel 1
Fredick 1
Fredric 1
Geo.Ewart 1
Herbert 1
Hy. 1
Jeremiah 1
Jessie 1
Jorl 1
Joshia 1
Mathew 1
Neighbour 1
Neto 1
Nicholas 1
Osborne 1
Percey 1
Reuben 1
Rig 1
Robert 1
Russel 1
Silas 1
Stanley 1
Stephen 1

FAQ

Wasley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wasley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 439 people were recorded with the Wasley surname. That placed it at #7,455 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wasley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 511 in 2016. That gives Wasley a modern rank of #9,834.

What does the Wasley surname mean?

From a woodsy dwell or meadow.

What does the Wasley map show?

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