Surname Darley - Meaning and Origin
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Darley: What does the surname Darley mean?
The last name Darley is of English origin and has a number of variants including Darly, Darlee, and Darlay. It is believed to be derived from a place-name, likely referring to a person from the village of Darley in North Yorkshire, England. The original Old English form of the place-name was Dēorlēah (meaning deer meadow or clearing), which may have been used by a person from the area as a surname. The name may also have been derived from an Old English personal name, Dēorlēa, or even a personal name like Derleah or Derlei.
The surname Darley is most commonly found in England and Scotland. In England, it is particularly concentrated in Lancashire and Derbyshire. In Scotland, it is most common in East Lothian and Midlothian. In the United States, it is mostly found in the states of New York, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts.
The Darley family motto, “Gardez-vous”, originates from French and roughly translates to “Take care - be vigilant”. This may have been the motto of an ancestor, or could be indicative of the family’s long history of military service. Indeed, military service is often associated with the Darleys, including William Darley (of Elsalam) who was granted a coat of arms with three gold fleur-de-lis for his actions in the Battle of Lewes in 1264. The family's name is also found in records dating back to the thirteenth century, when William Derley appears in the 1273 Feet of Fines, suggesting the family has been established in England for more than seven hundred years.
Overall, the surname Darley is highly associated with bravery and loyalty, which could give insight into the nature of some of its holders. In a world where people are often judged and categorized by their name, the Darleys have always worn their surname with pride and honor.
Order DNA origin analysisDarley: Where does the name Darley come from?
Darley is a surname of English origin, associated primarily with the Darley family of withes in Derbyshire. The name is thought to be derived from the Old English words for deer clearing.
Today, the surname Darley is fairly common in the United Kingdom and Ireland, particularly in England and Scotland. It is also common in parts of Australia, where many of the Darley family moved to during the 19th century. In addition, the Darley surname can be found in the United States, Canada and other areas of the world, most likely as a result of immigration.
In the United States, the surname is most commonly found in the states of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. In the United Kingdom, the Darley surname is most commonly found in Lancashire, Yorkshire, Derbyshire and East Anglia. In Australia, the surname is most commonly found in the states of Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland.
Overall, the last name Darley is quite common today, with many people bearing the name living in different parts of the world. It is most common in the United Kingdom, followed closely by Australia and the United States. It continues to be a well-recognized surname even after centuries of history.
Variations of the surname Darley
Surnames of the same origin as Darley can include the variants Darlee, Darl, Darly, Derley, and Darlay. There are also variations such as Darl, Darly, and Darleigh. Each of these variations of the surname could also be spelled differently, such as Darlye, Darlie, Darelye, Darell, Darelli, Darelli, Darli, Darel, Dari, and Darleye.
Surnames with similar origins but different spellings could include Darlea, Darli, Darlen, Darlene, Darlina, Darlene, Darlyne, Darlynne, and Darlene.
Some of the origin of the surname Darley can be found in West Yorkshire, England, as well as Scotland and Ireland. The most popular origins of this surname in the United States are German, Dutch, English, and Irish.
The use of different variations of the name Darley can be seen across the globe, with variations found in countries such as Australia, Canada, South Africa, and New Zealand. The variation ‘Darly’ is the most commonly seen in Australia. In Canada, the surname can be seen as ‘Darlee’ or ‘Darleigh’.
The origins of the surname can be traced through to the Norman surname ‘Darell’, which originated from the French-Norman ‘D’Arles'. This French-Norman word means ‘of the alder tree valley’. The surname has since evolved into many different spellings and variants as it has been adapted throughout different countries and cultures.
Famous people with the name Darley
- Julie Darley: an English artist and oil painter specialised in urban scenes and landscapes
- William Darley: Australian public administrator, known as founder of the Royal Life Saving Society in Australia and the New South Wales Fire Brigades Board
- Letitia Mary Darley: British set and costume designer
- Bob Darley: English football midfielder
- Piers Darley: British actor widely known for his roles in Harry Brown and Swimming with Men
- David Darley: Irish actor
- Peter William Darley: Irish cricketer
- George Darley: British poet and novelist
- Joseph Ashby Darley: an Australian politician
- Kevin Darley: English racing jockey