Show ContentsMatley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Matley family

The surname Matley was first found in Greater Manchester at Matley, a township, in the parish of Mottramin-Longdendale, union of Ashton, hundred of Macclesfield, formerly in the county of Chester. Relumnd de Madeleia was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Cheshire in 1212 and later, Hugh de Maddelee was listed at Husting in 1318. Thomas de Maddeleye was found in the Subsidy Rolls for Worcestershire in 1332. [1]

William de Mattelegh, Hugh de Mattelegh and Richard de Mattlegh were all listed in Cheshire in 1316, 1316 and 1300. [2] In 1325, William held the estates in the parish of Mottram.

Madeley Old Manor, originally known as Madeley Castle in the 14th century, was a medieval fortified manor house in the parish of Madeley, Staffordshire. It is now a ruin, with only fragments of its walls remaining. Madeley Old Hall, built in the late 1500's is an Elizabethan house, now a small hotel, in the village of Madeley in Staffordshire, England. Madley is a village and civil parish in the English county of Herefordshire.

Madeley in Staffordshire dates back to Saxon times when it was known as Madanlieg in 975, later to be recorded as Madellie in the Domesday Book of 1086. [3] Madeley-Market in Shropshire similarly dates back to the Domesday and was recorded at that time as Madelie. [4] "The name of this town indicates its situation between two rivers, and the adjunct arose from the grant of a market here, in the time of Henry III., to a community of Cluniac monks at Wenlock, to whom Madeley belonged. " [5]

The name Madeley literally means "woodland clearing of a man called 'Mada,' from the Old English personal name + "leah." [4]

Early History of the Matley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Matley research. Another 75 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1455 and 1487 are included under the topic Early Matley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Matley Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Matley, Matlee, Matlie, Matleigh, Matlea, Madley, Maddely, Maddelly and many more.

Early Notables of the Matley family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • the Matley family of Cheshire


United States Matley migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Matley Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • John Matley was granted land in Virginia in 1652
Matley Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Between 1846 and 1862 Abraham, James, and James J. Matley were all naturalized in Philadelphia
  • William Matley was naturalized in Indiana in 1848
  • Mary Matley was a pioneer in Utah in 1854

Australia Matley migration to Australia +

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

Matley Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. William Matley, (b. 1770), aged 51, English convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Claudine" on 20th May 1821, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) [6]

Contemporary Notables of the name Matley (post 1700) +

  • Timothy Thomas "Timmy" Matley (1982-2018), Irish singer from Cork, Ireland, known for his work with The Overtones; he died at the age of 36 from skin cancer
  • Charles Alfred Matley (1866-1947), British paleontologist and geologist, awarded the Murchison Medal in 1929 by the Geological Society of London
  • Josephine Matley Duddle (1890-1981), Australian artist, known for her postcards featuring children and fairies, member of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters and the Society of Women Artists; she also wrote and illustrated two books: "One, Two, Buckle My Shoe" (1916) and "Kittles of Toy Town"


  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  4. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  5. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  6. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th February 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/claudine


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