NameCensus.

UK surname

Windley

An occupational surname referring to a maker or seller of wind-powered machinery.

In the 1881 census there were 277 people recorded with the Windley surname, ranking it #10,283 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 430, ranked #11,195, down from #10,283 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, London parishes and Clee. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Lindsey, North Lincolnshire and Chelmsford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Windley is 488 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 55.2%.

1881 census count

277

Ranked #10,283

Modern count

430

2016, ranked #11,195

Peak year

1998

488 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Windley had 277 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,283 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 430 in 2016, ranked #11,195.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 441 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Windley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Windley surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Windley 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 152 #12,786
1861 historical 277 #9,025
1881 historical 277 #10,283
1891 historical 333 #10,223
1901 historical 359 #10,242
1911 historical 441 #8,638
1997 modern 461 #9,886
1998 modern 488 #9,780
1999 modern 473 #10,069
2000 modern 466 #10,163
2001 modern 454 #10,162
2002 modern 448 #10,477
2003 modern 430 #10,669
2004 modern 417 #10,943
2005 modern 401 #11,165
2006 modern 405 #11,131
2007 modern 422 #10,904
2008 modern 430 #10,834
2009 modern 436 #10,965
2010 modern 443 #11,046
2011 modern 450 #10,790
2012 modern 439 #10,873
2013 modern 444 #10,946
2014 modern 445 #11,002
2015 modern 432 #11,183
2016 modern 430 #11,195

Geography

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Where Windleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, London parishes, Clee, Nottingham St Mary and Chelmsford, Broomfield, Writtle, Widford, Chignal St James, Chignal Smealy. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Lindsey, North Lincolnshire, Chelmsford and Kingston upon Hull. 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 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Clee Lincolnshire
4 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire
5 Chelmsford, Broomfield, Writtle, Widford, Chignal St James, Chignal Smealy Essex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Lindsey 016 East Lindsey
2 North Lincolnshire 008 North Lincolnshire
3 North Lincolnshire 022 North Lincolnshire
4 Chelmsford 011 Chelmsford
5 Kingston upon Hull 030 Kingston upon Hull, City of

Forenames

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First names often paired with Windley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Windley

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Windley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Windley household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Windley is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Windley is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Windley falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Windley

The surname Windley is of English origin and dates back to the medieval period. It has roots in the counties of Derbyshire and Yorkshire. The name is believed to derive from a combination of the Old English words "wind" (meaning "wind") and "leah" (meaning "clearing" or "meadow"). This suggests that the surname originally referred to someone who lived in or near a windy clearing.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Windley can be found in the 12th and 13th centuries. One of the earliest mentions in historical records is found in the Close Rolls, where a reference to Geoffrey de Windley in 1230 demonstrates early use. This indicates that the name was well-established in England by this time. Variants of the name include Wyndley and Windeleigh, often seen in old records and manuscripts.

One notable historical figure with the surname Windley is Agnes Windley, who was documented in Norfolk's ancient records around the year 1379 during the Poll Tax Register. Another early bearer of the surname, Robert Windley, is mentioned in the Yorkshire Poll Tax returns of 1379, further illustrating the spread of the name.

The name Windley has also been associated with place names. Windley in Derbyshire is a small village, whose name is likely the origin of the surname. Historical spellings of the village include Wendlege in the Domesday Book of 1086, indicating its longstanding presence in the region.

In the 16th century, William Windley (born 1565, died 1623) of Norfolk emerges as a prominent individual, known for his involvement in local governance and his contributions to parish records. Another significant figure, John Windley (born 1640, died 1705), is linked to the early industrial activities in Yorkshire, particularly in woolen manufacturing.

The surname continued to be prominent in various professions. Edward Windley (born 1783, died 1852) was a noted figure during the early 19th century, known for his work as a cartographer and surveyor. An influential person carrying this surname in the academic field was Dr. Samuel Windley (born 1810, died 1890), who was a distinguished medical practitioner and scholar in London.

Windley remains a surname with deep historical roots, rich with associations to England's medieval and early modern periods, borne by individuals who contributed to their communities in various notable ways.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Windley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Windley 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. Lincolnshire leads with 56 Windleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.92x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 56 12.92x
Essex 37 6.91x
Derbyshire 27 6.36x
Nottinghamshire 27 7.39x
Staffordshire 24 2.62x
Surrey 19 1.44x
Leicestershire 15 4.99x
Middlesex 15 0.55x
Suffolk 13 3.94x
Lancashire 10 0.31x
Yorkshire 8 0.30x
Cheshire 5 0.84x
Warwickshire 5 0.73x
Worcestershire 5 1.41x
Kent 4 0.43x
Buckinghamshire 3 1.83x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.58x
Cumberland 1 0.43x
Hampshire 1 0.18x
Royal Navy 1 3.10x
Somerset 1 0.23x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Camberwell in Surrey leads with 17 Windleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.81x.

Place Total Index
Camberwell 17 9.81x
Pilsley In Chesterfield 15 2941.18x
Radford 15 80.78x
Harborne 12 40.91x
Barkby 9 1551.72x
Boreham 8 869.57x
Clee With Weelsby 8 84.30x
Lakenheath 8 459.77x
Epping 7 322.58x
Louth 7 70.42x
Scunthorpe 7 358.97x
Stoke Upon Trent 7 7.21x
Wrawby 7 598.29x
Cleethorpes 6 235.29x
Bethnal Green London 5 4.24x
Carlton Colville 5 413.22x
Dudley 5 11.61x
Grimoldby 5 1470.59x
Leicester St Margaret 5 6.82x
Little Waltham 5 925.93x
Nottingham St Mary 5 5.29x
Nottingham St Peter 5 122.85x
Poplar London 5 9.77x
Belper 4 48.60x
Birmingham 4 1.76x
Great Grimsby 4 14.53x
Newton In Ashton Under 4 67.68x
North Somercotes 4 350.88x
South Cockerington 4 1904.76x
Stafford St Mary 4 30.86x
West Ham 4 3.38x
Ashton Under Lyne 3 4.27x
Aylesbury 3 41.32x
Ecclesall Bierlow 3 5.49x
Leyton Low 3 27.57x
Ockbrook 3 166.67x
Pendleton In Salford 3 7.83x
Sheffield 3 3.51x
Writtle 3 136.99x
Chadderton 2 12.71x
Charlton Next Woolwich 2 20.73x
Derby St Werburgh 2 8.16x
Litchurch 2 11.71x
Margaretting 2 408.16x
Openshaw 2 13.27x
Plumstead 2 6.49x
Shadwell London 2 26.35x
Southwark Christchurch 2 15.74x
St Pancras London 2 0.92x
Wanstead 2 21.34x
Aldershot 1 5.37x
Atherstone 1 28.65x
Dukinfield 1 3.62x
Fulstow 1 192.31x
Grainthorpe 1 153.85x
Great Dunmow 1 35.84x
Hackney London 1 0.66x
Holy Trinity St Mary 1 24.45x
Lenton 1 11.61x
Loughborough 1 7.33x
Nottingham St Nicholas 1 20.08x
Prittlewell 1 13.48x
Repton 1 62.50x
Roxby Cum Risby 1 256.41x
Royal Navy 1 3.62x
Scarborough 1 4.10x
St Michael Cambridge 1 200.00x
Steeple 1 204.08x
Walcot 1 4.30x
Walsall Foreign 1 2.12x
Waltham 1 144.93x
Whitehaven 1 8.04x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 21
John 16
Henry 10
Thomas 10
Samuel 7
Albert 6
Stephen 6
Edward 5
Arthur 4
Charles 4
Frederick 4
George 4
Johnson 3
Robert 3
Benjamin 2
Harry 2
James 2
Percy 2
Thos. 2
Tom 2
Walter 2
Abraham 1
Alfred 1
Char. 1
Edwin 1
Enoch 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Geo. 1
Guildford 1
Harold 1
Jess 1
Joseph 1
Mannasah 1
Montague 1
Moses 1
Nathan 1
Nelson 1
Sam 1
Saml. 1
Theodore 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Windley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Windley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 277 people were recorded with the Windley surname. That placed it at #10,283 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Windley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 430 in 2016. That gives Windley a modern rank of #11,195.

What does the Windley surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a maker or seller of wind-powered machinery.

What does the Windley map show?

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