Contents [hide]

Standley History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Standley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The Anglo-Saxon name Standley comes from when the family resided in the county of Cumberland in an area that was defined by the Old English word stanley which means astony clearing or stony field. Standley is a topographic surname, which was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree. During the Middle Ages, as society became more complex, individuals needed a way to be distinguishable from others. Toponymic surnames were developed as a result of this need. Various features in the landscape or area were used to distinguish people from one another. In this case the original bearers of the surname Standley were named due to their close proximity to the stanley.

Early Origins of the Standley family

The surname Standley was first found in Cambridgeshire at Stonely (Stoneley), a hamlet near Kimbolton and home to Stoneley Priory which was established in 1180 and dissolved in 1536.

By the time of the Conquest, there were several listings of the name in the Domesday Book 1 including: Stanlei in Derbyshire and West Yorkshire; Stanlee in Gloucestershire; and Stanlei (now Stoneleigh) in Warwickshire. The place name literally means "stony wood clearing." 2

"Descended from a younger branch of the Barons Audeley, of Audeley in Staffordshire, the name of Stanley, from the manor of that name in this county, in the reign of John, was assumed by William de Audleigh." 3

Another branch of the family was established in very early times in Hornby, Lancashire. "The castle was originally founded soon after the Norman Conquest, and was subsequently the residence of the Stanleys, lords Monteagle, to one of whom the mysterious letter was sent which led to the discovery of the Gunpowder plot." 4

Later "the Stanleys of Alderley, and the Stanleys of Hooton, [became] the sole owners of the township [of Great Meolse, Cheshire.]" 4

Early History of the Standley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Standley research. Another 223 words (16 lines of text) covering the years 1100, 1350, 1414, 1435, 1442, 1460, 1485, 1503, 1504, 1506, 1531, 1566, 1586, 1593, 1597, 1599, 1625, 1628, 1655, 1660, 1664, 1670, 1672, 1678, 1695, 1698, 1702, 1714 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Standley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Standley Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Standley include Stanley, Standley, Stanleigh, Stoneley and others.

Early Notables of the Standley family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Sir John Stanley K.G. (c.1350-1414), Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and titular King of Mann; Sir Thomas Stanley (c.1435-1504), created 1st Earl of Derby in 1485; George Stanley, 9th Baron Strange, of Knockyn, KG, KB (1460-1503), an English nobleman and heir apparent of Thomas Stanley, 1st Earl of Derby; Sir John Stanley, illegitimate son of James Stanley, Bishop of Ely, in 1506; Sir Thomas Stanley (1597-1672), created 1st Baronet Stanley of Alderley Hall in 1660; Henry Stanley, 4th Earl of Derby KG (1531-1593)...
Another 89 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Standley Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Standley Ranking

In the United States, the name Standley is the 5,803^rd most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 5

Migration of the Standley family to Ireland

Some of the Standley family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 62 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Standley migration to the United States +

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants:

Standley Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Peter Standley, who landed in Maryland in 1660 6
Robert Standley, who arrived in Maryland or Virginia in 1661 6
Thomas Standley, who arrived in Virginia in 1665 6
William Standley, aged 22, who arrived in Maryland in 1684 6

Standley Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Edward Standley, who landed in Virginia in 1703 6
William Standley, who landed in Virginia in 1715 6

Standley Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Jacob Standley, aged 21, who arrived in Ohio in 1872 6

Standley migration to Australia +

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

Standley Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. George Standley, British convict who was convicted in Warwick, England for life, transported aboard the "Asia" on 29th September 1831, settling in New South Wales, Australia 7
Robert Standley, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Canton" in 1846 8
Charles Standley, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Stebonheath" in 1849 9
Joseph Standley, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Stebonheath" in 1849 9
Miles Standley, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Stebonheath" in 1849 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Standley (post 1700) +

O.J. Standley, American Vice-president of Chicago Title and Trust, eponym of Standley Lake Regional Park, Colorado
William Harrison Standley (1872-1963), U.S. Admiral, Chief of Naval Operations (1933 to 1937), U.S. Ambassador to the Soviet Union (1941 to 1943), eponym of USS William H. Standley (DLG/CG-32)
Paul Carpenter Standley (1884-1963), American botanist

The Standley Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Sans changer
Motto Translation: Without changing.

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)
Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 12th January 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1831
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) CANTON 1846. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1846Canton.htm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) STEBONHEATH 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Stebonheath.htm