Eberley Surname History

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

The Eberley name has descended through the generations from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. Their name comes from having lived in either of the settlements called Everley in Wiltshire or the West Riding of Yorkshire. The surname Eberley belongs to the large category of Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.

Early Origins of the Eberley family

The surname Eberley was first found in North Yorkshire at Everley or at Everleigh in Wiltshire. Both are rather old villages. Everley in Yorkshire dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 where it was listed as Eurelai 1 and Everleigh in Wiltshire dates back further to Saxon times when it was listed as Eburleagh. Both have similar origins in that they both literally mean "wood or clearing frequented by wild boars," from the Old English words "eofar" + "leah." 2

Everley in Wiltshire "at the time of the heptarchy, was the residence of Ina, King of the West Saxons; it subsequently belonged for many generations to the Plantagenets, dukes of Lancaster, and eventually became vested in the crown, as the property of Henry of Bolingbroke, afterwards Henry IV. " 3

Early English rolls provide us a glimpse of the spelling variations used through Medieval times: Ailward de Euerlay was listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1200 for Warwickshire; William de Everley in Yorkshire in 1247; and William de Euerley in the Subsidy Rolls for Worcestershire in 1346. 4

Further to the north in Scotland, this branch claims descent from "Everley in the North Riding, Yorkshire. Johannes de Euerlay, canon of Dunkeld, was papal commissioner, 1248 and also in 1250-1251 was witness to a charter by Geoffrey, bishop of Dunkeld. As Johannes de Evirlay or Ewerlay he is a charter witness in Perth in reigns of Alexander II and III. He may be Master John de Enerleya (u misread n), apparently a churchman, who attested a charter to Abbey of Culross, c. 1231." 5

Early History of the Eberley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Eberley research. Another 87 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1268, 1511, 1554, 1586, 1639 and 1664 are included under the topic Early Eberley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Eberley Spelling Variations

Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Eberley has undergone many spelling variations, including Everley, Eveleigh, Eveley, Evelley, Everlie and others.

Early Notables of the Eberley family

Another 36 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Eberley Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Eberley family to Ireland

Some of the Eberley family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Eberley migration to the United States +

To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Eberley were among those contributors:

Eberley Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Geo Christ'r Eberley, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1761 6

Citations +

Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)