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Greeley History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Citations

Greeley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Greeley family

The surname Greeley was first found in the Domesday Book of 1086 where Albert Greslet was listed as holding lands in Cheshire. 1

Robertus Greslatus was listed in Lancashire in 1127, Robert Greslet in the Pipe Rolls for Yorskhire in 1130, Robert Greilli in Bedfordshire from 1133-1160, and Alexander Grisle was listed in Winton, Hampshire in 1148. Albert

Gresley, Gresle was listed in Norfolk 1153-1168 and later in Lancashire in Pipe Rolls of 1182. Robert Gresle, de Gredlei was registered in the Pipe Rolls for Lincolnshire 1196-1197 and Gredlei was listed in the same county in 1200. Robert Gresle, Grelle, de Grellay, Gredlegh was found in the Feet of Fines for Lancashire, Suffolk, Lincolnshire and Oxfordshire in 1212. "Greasley and Gresley are also local in origin, from Greasley (Notts) and Gresley (Derby), pronounced Greasley." 2

There are two possible origins of the name. First, the name is derived from the Old French word "greslet" which roughly translates as "marked as by hail," or "pitted or pock-marked"; 2 and secondly it meant "dweller at the Grey Lea from the Old English grœg + leáh (Middle English ley.)" 3

Two other sources note that the name is a local name that "probably [originated] in co. Rutland, as De Greley and De Greyley are found there in H.R. [(Hundredorum Rolls)]temp. Edw. I." 4

And the second source provides more details about the Hundredorum Rolls entries, specifically entries for Thomas de Greyley, Rutland, and Albricus de Greyleye, Rutland. Robert de Greyle from Cambridgeshire was also listed there. 5

Robert Greyleg, was listed in Somerset, 1 Edward III (during the first year of the reign of King Edward III. 6

Early History of the Greeley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Greeley research. Another 163 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1130, 1198, 1204, 1271, 1273, 1295, 1614, 1634, 1637, 1654 and 1674 are included under the topic Early Greeley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Greeley Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Greely, Greeley, Grailly, de Grailly, Greyle, Greelie and many more.

Early Notables of the Greeley family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was John Grayle or Graile (1614-1654), English Puritan minister, the son of John Grayle, priest, of Stone, Gloucestershire, where he...
Another 27 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Greeley Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Greeley Ranking

In the United States, the name Greeley is the 7,210^th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 7 However, in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Greeley is ranked the 400^th most popular surname with an estimated 117 people with that name. 8

Greeley migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Greeley Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Andrew Greeley, who landed in Salisbury, Massachusetts in 1638 9

Greeley Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

E Greeley, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 9
Maggie Greeley, aged 17, who arrived in America from Dublin, Ireland, in 1892
Mrs H.C. Greeley, aged 47, who arrived in America, in 1895
H.C. Greeley, aged 50, who arrived in America, in 1895
Rufus F. Greeley, aged 48, who arrived in America, in 1895
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Greeley Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Kate Greeley, aged 23, who arrived in America from Longford, Ireland, in 1903
Jane Greeley, aged 6, who arrived in America, in 1906
Gladys Greeley, aged 26, who arrived in America, in 1907
Ellie Greeley, aged 26, who arrived in America from BallyhAunis, Ireland, in 1907
Annie Greeley, aged 3, who arrived in America from Ballyhaunis, Ireland, in 1907
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Greeley migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Greeley Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

John Greeley, aged 28, who arrived in South Bay, Newfoundland, in 1909
Matthew Greeley, aged 22, who arrived in Foxtrap, Newfoundland, in 1923

Contemporary Notables of the name Greeley (post 1700) +

Christian David "Chris" Greeley (1962-2023), American politician, born in Bangor, Maine, Member of the Maine state legislature (2002-2010)
Mary Young Cheney Greeley (1811-1872), American wife of newspaper editor Horace Greeley
Ronald Greeley (1939-2011), American former Regents Professor in the School of Earth and Space Exploration (SESE) at Arizona State University
Evelyn Greeley (1888-1975), American silent film actress who appeared in approximately 30 films from 1915 to 1922
George Greeley (1917-2007), born Georgio Guariglia, an American pianist, conductor, composer and arranger, known for his work on TV series like My Favorite Martian, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, Nanny and the Professor, and Small Wonder
Andrew Greeley (1928-2013), American priest, sociologist, and author who wrote a weekly column for the Chicago Sun-Times and contributed regularly to The New York Times
Philip Greeley (1888-1954), American educator, conductor, pianist, and composer of classical music
Frederick Atwood Greeley (1896-1980), American astronomer
Dana McLean Greeley (1908-1986), American Unitarian minister
Horace Greeley (1811-1872), American journalist and politician, who founded and edited the New York Tribune
... (Another 12 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Greeley family +

SS Newfoundland

Mr. Noah Greeley (b. 1877), Newfoundlander from Kelligrews, who on the 30th March 1914 he was part of the Seal Crew of the "SS Newfoundland" leaving the ship to intercept the Stephano which took him to the hunting grounds, he disembarked to begin sealing, but was caught in a thickening storm, attempting to return to the Newfoundland he and the 132 crew made camp for two days the sealers were stranded on the ice in a blizzard attempting to return to the ship, he survived

Citations +

Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
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)