Show ContentsOatley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The origins of the Oatley name lie with England's ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It comes from when the family lived in the parish of Oteley found in the counties of Shropshire, Suffolk and the West Riding of Yorkshire. 1 Oatley is derived from the Old English elements "ote," or "oats" and "leah," meaning "a clearing." 2

Otley in the West Riding of Yorkshire as "in the Domesday Survey [as] Othelia, is supposed to have derived the name from Othe or Otho, its Saxon proprietor. It formed the principal portion of an extensive manor or liberty, which was granted by Athelstan to the see of York. The archbishops had a residence here, and their successors to this day are lords of the manor and liberty." 3

Early Origins of the Oatley family

The surname Oatley was first found in Suffolk where the first record of the family was found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 as Richard de Otteleye. Kirby's Quest lists "Henry Otleghe, Somerset, Edward III" 4 (Henry Otleghe held lands in Somerset during the reign of Edward III.)

Tor de Ottalay was listed in Yorkshire (1148-1156); Thomas de Otteleg was found in the Curia Regis Rolls for 1225 in Suffolk; and Paulinus de Otteley was found in the Feet of Fines for Yorkshire in 1301. 5

Later the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed Mary Henry Hotlay as living there at that time. 6

Early History of the Oatley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Oatley research. Another 161 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1425, 1434, 1601, 1626, 1643, 1644, 1646, 1649, 1661, 1670, 1716 and 1723 are included under the topic Early Oatley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Oatley Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Oatley were recorded, including Ottley, Otley, Oatley, Oteley, Oatly and others.

Early Notables of the Oatley family

Notables of the family at this time include Sir Francis Ottley (1601-1649), English Royalist knight, military governor of Shrewsbury in 1643 and later High Sheriff of Shropshire (1644-1646)...
Another 28 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Oatley Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Oatley migration to the United States +

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Oatley family emigrate to North America:

Oatley Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • William Oatley, who arrived in Virginia in 1697 7
Oatley Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Margaret Oatley, an English convict, who arrived in Maryland in 1761

Australia Oatley migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Oatley Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • James Oatley, Sr. (c. 1769–1839), English-born colonial Australian watchmaker and one-time convict who arrived in Sydney, New South Wales in 1815 aboard the "Marquis of Wellington"
  • George Oatley, aged 18, who arrived in South Australia in 1858 aboard the ship "Nugget" 8

New Zealand Oatley migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Oatley Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Miss Eliza Oatley, (b. 1842), aged 21, British dressmaker travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Lancashire Witch" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 13th October 1863 9

Contemporary Notables of the name Oatley (post 1700) +

  • Sir George Herbert Oatley (1863-1950), English architect noted for his work in Bristol
  • Sir Charles Oatley (1904-1996), English Professor of Electrical Engineering, University of Cambridge
  • Neil Oatley (b. 1954), English Engineer, designer of Grand-Prix winning race cars
  • Robert Ian "Bob" Oatley AO (1928-2016), Australian businessman, winemaker and yachtsman, owner of the eight-time Sydney-Hobart-winning yacht Wild Oats XI, founder of the Rosemount winery in 1969
  • Keith Oatley FRSC FBPsS, English-born, Canadian novelist, and professor emeritus of cognitive psychology at the University of Toronto
  • Jacqueline Anne Oatley, British sports broadcaster for BBC Sport

HMS Prince of Wales
  • Mr. S Oatley, British Electrical Artificer 4th Class, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 10


  1. Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
  2. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  3. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  4. 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.
  5. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  6. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  7. 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)
  8. South Australian Register. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Nugget 1858. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/nugget1858.shtml
  9. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  10. HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html


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