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Show ContentsStanley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
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Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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The lineage of the name Stanley begins with the Anglo-Saxon tribes in Britain. It is a result of when they lived in the county of Cumberland in an area that was defined by the Old English word stanley which means astony clearing or stony field. Stanley 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 Stanley were named due to their close proximity to the stanley.

Early Origins of the Stanley family

The surname Stanley 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 Stanley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Stanley 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 Stanley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Stanley 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 Stanley has undergone many spelling variations, including Stanley, Standley, Stanleigh, Stoneley and others.

Early Notables of the Stanley 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), a prominent English nobleman, diplomat, and politician who was among the chief officials of the trial of deposed Scottish monarch Mary, Queen of Scots...
  • Charlotte Stanley, Countess of Derby (1599-1664), born Charlotte de La Trémoille, who married James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby
  • Thomas Stanley (1625-1678) famous author
  • Charles Stanley, 8th Earl of Derby (1628-1672), an English nobleman
  • William Richard George Stanley, 9th Earl of Derby (c.1655-1702), an English peer

Stanley World Ranking

In the United States, the name Stanley is the 228th most popular surname with an estimated 114,402 people with that name. 5 However, in Canada, the name Stanley is ranked the 803rd most popular surname with an estimated 6,688 people with that name. 6 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Stanley is the 300th popular surname with an estimated 151 people with that name. 7 Australia ranks Stanley as 416th with 8,923 people. 8 New Zealand ranks Stanley as 428th with 1,560 people. 9 The United Kingdom ranks Stanley as 310th with 19,692 people. 10

Ireland Migration of the Stanley family to Ireland

Some of the Stanley 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.

United States Stanley 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 Stanley were among those contributors:

Stanley Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Roger Stanley, (b. 1593), aged 27 who arrived in Virginia in 1620 aboard the ship "Abigaile" 11
  • Roger Stanley, who landed in Virginia in 1620 12
  • Morris Stanley, aged 26, who landed in Virginia in 1624 aboard the ship "Hopewell" 12
  • John Stanley, who landed in Hartford, Connecticut in 1634-1635 12
  • Thomas Stanley, who arrived in Lynn, Massachusetts in 1634 12
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Stanley Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Joseph and his wife Elizabeth Stanley, who settled in Georgia in 1732
  • Joseph Stanley, who landed in Georgia in 1738 12
  • Sarah Stanley, who landed in Maryland in 1740 12
  • David Stanley, who arrived in North Carolina in 1748 12
  • James Stanley, who landed in America in 1764 12
Stanley Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • William Stanley, who arrived in New York, NY in 1811 12
  • Peter Stanley, who arrived in New York, NY in 1816 12
  • Edward F Stanley, who arrived in New York, NY in 1835 12
  • Stephen J Stanley, who landed in Texas in 1835 12
  • G I Stanley, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1850 12
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Stanley migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Stanley Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Edward Stanley, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749
  • Mr. Thomas Stanley U.E. who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 13
Stanley Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • John Stanley, who settled in Long Pond, Conception Bay, Newfoundland, in 1840 14
  • Ms. Ellen Stanley, aged 30, a Nurse at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec but died there in August 1847 during the typhus epidemic 15
  • M Stanley, who landed in Victoria, British Columbia in 1862

Australia Stanley migration to Australia +

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

Stanley Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Miss Hannah Stanley, (b. 1788), aged 22, English servant who was convicted in Kent, England for life for stealing, transported aboard the "Canada" in March 1810, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, she died in 1854 16
  • Mr. William Stanley, British Convict who was convicted in Nottinghamshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Earl Spencer" in May 1813, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 17
  • Edward Stanley, English convict from Lancaster, who was transported aboard the "Adamant" on March 16, 1821, settling in New South Wales, Australia 18
  • Mr. Michael Stanley, (b. 1798), aged 24, Irish ploughman who was convicted in Wicklow, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Countess of Harcourt" on 3rd September 1822, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 19
  • Mr. Robert Stanley, (b. 1808), aged 18, English farm labourer who was convicted in Bedford, Bedfordshire, England for life for stealing, transported aboard the "England"on 28th April 1826, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 20
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Stanley 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:

Stanley Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mrs. Stanley, Australian settler travelling from Sydney, Australia aboard the ship "Bristolian" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand in 1842 21
  • Mr. John Stanley, (b. 1827), aged 23, British agricultural labourer travelling from London aboard the ship "Randolph" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand in September 1850 22
  • Mrs. Mary Stanley, (b. 1830), aged 19, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Randolph" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand in September 1850, she died in 1901 22
  • Mr. Frank Stanley, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Harkaway" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 2nd June 1857 21
  • John Stanley, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Ashburton" in 1857
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Stanley (post 1700) +

  • Charles Frazier Stanley (1932-2023), American Baptist pastor and writer, pastor emeritus of First Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia, founder and president of In Touch Ministries
  • Dimitrious Stanley (1974-2023), American football wide receiver who played for the New Jersey Red Dogs and in the Canadian Football League for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
  • Woodrow Stanley (1950-2022), American Democratic Party politician, 89th Mayor of Flint, Michigan (1991-2002), Member of the Michigan House of Representatives from District 34 (2009-2014) 23
  • Michael Stanley Gee (1948-2021), American singer-songwriter, musician, and radio personality
  • Ralph Edmund Stanley (1927-2016), nicknamed Dr. Ralph Stanley, an American bluegrass artist, co-founder of the Stanley Brothers
  • Ted Stanley (1932-2016), American philanthropist and businessman, founder of the Danbury Mint which has marketed high quality medals and ingots in 1969
  • William "Bill" T. Stanley (1957-2015), American mammalogist, Director of the Field Museum of Natural History (FMNH) Collections Center
  • Thomas J. Stanley (1944-2015), American writer and business theorist, best known as the author of the New York Times’ best sellers The Millionaire Next Door and The Millionaire Mind
  • Richard Peter Stanley (b. 1944), American mathematician awarded the Steele Prize for Mathematical Exposition in 2001
  • Sir Henry Morton Stanley GCB (1841-1904), Welsh-born, American journalist and explorer who searched for Dr. Livingstone and allegedly uttered the famous greeting, "Dr. Livingstone, I presume?"
  • ... (Another 94 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
HMS Dorsetshire
  • Horace Stanley (1921-1945), , aged 24, born in Woodville, South Derbyshire, England, British Ordinary Seaman aboard the HMS Dorsetshire when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he died in the sinking 24
HMS Halsted
  • Mr. William George Stanley (b. 1919), British Royal Navy able seaman from London, England was stationed aboard the "HMS Halsted" when it was struck by torpedo by Jaguar and Mowe of the Cherbourg coast on 11th June 1944, he did not survive
HMS Hood
  • Mr. Leonard Stanley (b. 1922), English Able Seaman serving for the Royal Navy from Erdington, Birmingham, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 25
HMS Prince of Wales
  • Mr. Stanley, British Able Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 26
HMS Repulse
  • Mr. Acourt Stanley, British Able Bodied Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 27
HMS Royal Oak
  • Cyril James Stanley (1922-1939), British Boy 1st Class with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 28
  • Augustus George Stanley (1916-1939), Irish Stoker 1st Class with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 28
RMS Lusitania
  • Mr. H. Stanley, English Fireman from England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 29
  • Mr. J. Stanley, English Fireman from England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 29
  • Mr. David H. Stanley, English First Waiter from Egremont, Cheshire, England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 29
  • Mr. Henry William Stanley, American 2nd Class passenger from Trenton, New Jersey, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 30
RMS Titanic
  • Miss Amy Zillah Elsie Stanley, aged 24, English Third Class passenger from Wallingford, Oxfordshire who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking in collapsible C 31
  • Mr. Edward Rowland Stanley (d. 1912), aged 21, English Third Class passenger from Swanage England who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 31
Senghenydd colliery
  • Mr. Thomas Edward Stanley (b. 1882), Welsh coal miner from Senghenydd, Caerphilly, Wales who was working at the Senghenydd colliery when there was an explosion on the 14th October 1913; he died
SS Southern Cross
  • Mr. William Stanley (1868-1914), Newfoundlander from Long Pond who was aboard the "SS Southern Cross" when it is suspected she sank between the 31st March 1914 and early April during the storm with a heavy load of pelts; no survivors were ever found
  • Mr. John J. Stanley (1879-1914), Newfoundlander from Long Pond who was aboard the "SS Southern Cross" when it is suspected she sank between the 31st March 1914 and early April during the storm with a heavy load of pelts; no survivors were ever found

The Stanley 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.

Suggested Readings for the name Stanley +

  • Sands Stanley of the Pee Dee Valley by Haywood A. Stanley.
  • Stanley Families of America by Harold S. Langland.
  • Whither Though Goest: a Story of the Stanley Family in Virginia, North Carolina, Kansas and Oklahoma by Elnora Stanley Flahery.
  1. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  2. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  3. Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
  4. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  5. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  6. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  7. 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)
  8. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  9. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  10. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  11. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's. Retrieved January 6th 2023 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  12. 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)
  13. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  14. Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
  15. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 61)
  16. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 9th December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/canada
  17. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 8th September 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-spencer
  18. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Adamant voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1821 with 144 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/adamant/1821
  19. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/countess-of-harcourt
  20. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th April 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/england
  21. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  22. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  23. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 13) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  24. Force Z Survivors HMS Dorsetshire Crew List, (Retrieved 2018, February 13th), https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listdorsetshirecrew.html
  25. H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
  26. HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
  27. HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
  28. Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
  29. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 7) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
  30. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
  31. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
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