Surname Morley - Meaning and Origin

An Unveiled Legacy: Deciphering the Rich Tapestry of my Morley Ancestry through iGENEA DNA Testing

Through genetic testing with iGENEA, I discovered unexpected ancestry and lineage of my Morley ancestors that stretched far beyond my primary British descent, encompassing surprisingly rich Irish and Scandinavian strands. This profound knowledge has radically expanded my self-understanding and has shaped how I perceive and appreciate my diverse heritage.

P. Morley

Morley: What does the surname Morley mean?

The surname Morley is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is derived from the name of an actual place. The place name is derived from the Old English “mor” and “leah”, meaning a ‘marshy clearing in a moor’.

As a surname, Morley may have been used to refer to a person who resided near the moor or clearing, or one who hailed from the specific location. In some cases, variations of the name indicated people who were part of a religious order, or had once been affiliated with one. The name Morley was also used to denote a topographical characteristic, such as a peculiarly shaped hill or mountain.

In modern times, people with the last name Morley may have come from the various places named after people and places with the surname. These may range from the English town of Morley in West Yorkshire to other, smaller places with the same name like Morley near Estevan in Saskatchewan, Canada.

Regardless of the origin, the last name Morley likely carries a sense of connections to the past, a sense of permanence, and a way of feeling rooted in history. It is a powerful reminder of the rich heritage that many of us are linked to, whether we are aware of it or not.

Morley: Where does the name Morley come from?

Morley is an English surname that has been around since the middle ages. Today, the name is most commonly found in England, Australia, Canada, the United States, and New Zealand.

The name Morley is derived from the Old English word ‘mære’ which means boundary, and ‘leah’ meaning forest or clearing. This suggests that it was used to denote a person who lived near or within a certain area. Over time, different variations of this surname such as Morle, Morele, Morly, and Morlee emerged and became popular outside of England.

In England, Morley is a common surname mostly found in the northern part of the country. The city of Morley in West Yorkshire, England has been a significant hub for the name since the 12th century. Areas such as Leeds, Sheffield, and Hull that lie in close proximity to Morley are also home to many residents who bear the name.

The other countries where Morley can be found are Canada, United States, New Zealand, and Australia. Many people from England brought the surname with them during colonization, giving rise to Morley family lines in these countries. To this day, individuals bearing the name can be found in all these countries.

Variations of the surname Morley

The surname Morley is an English locational surname derived from the settlement of Morley in areas of Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Shropshire. The surname is also found as an Anglo-Irish surname in parts of Ireland.

Variants of the surname Morley include Murley, Morly, Morleston, Morleson, Morlesone, Murly, and Morlieston. Other spelling variations are Maulay, Moulay, Morlay, and Moorley.

The surname can also be found with multiple double-barrel surnames such as Morliss-Morley, Morlay-Morley, and Morleston-Morley.

The Scottish and Irish variants are Morrissey,McMorley, Morris, Morrisson and O’Morley. The Welsh variant is Morlas.

In Canada and the United States, immigrants to these countries from Britain, Scotland, Ireland, Wales and beyond changed the spelling of their surname to Mara, Mar, Mers, Marr, Marra, Mary, and Marley, as well as Merley, Marres, Mor, Marr, Marley-Morley, and others.

The surname Morley can be found with a variety of spellings and over time has spread to many different countries, making it possible to come across many different sounding surnames with its same origin.

Famous people with the name Morley

• Sarah Morley: English Squash Player
• Jeff Morley: Creator and Chief Executive Officer of Applied Morley
• Piers Morley: Film Producer and Financier
• Mark Morley: Canadian Football Player
• Amy Morley: British Actress
• Edward Morley: 19th Century American Scientist and Physicist
• Colleen Morley: British Curler
• Chris Morley: Professional UK Touring Golfer
• Richard Morley: Award-Winning Cinematographer
• Elizabeth Morley: British Actress and Screenwriter
• Patricia Morley: British Painter and Printmaker
• James Morley: Actor, Director, and Producer
• Poppy Morley: British Actress
• Rob Morley: Australian Street Artist
• Luke Morley: British Musician
• George Morley: English Bishop
• Michael Morley: New Zealand Musician and Artist
• Erica Morley: Actor and Singer
• Matthew Morley: Singer and Guitarist
• Howard Morley: British Actor and Writer

Other surnames

MorleighMorletMorlettMorlette