Contents [hide]

Motley History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Canada New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Suggested Reading Citations

Motley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Wales
Ireland

The Motley surname comes from when the Motley family lived in the settlement of Medlicott in the English border county of Shropshire. The surname Motley belongs to the category of habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.

Early Origins of the Motley family

The surname Motley was first found in Shropshire, at Medlicott, a parish in Wentnor. It is generally believed that the oldest record of the family was Llewelyn de Modlicott who resided here c. 1180. He was son of Sir Roger de Meldron (died c. 1200.)

By the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, some of the family were found in Devonshire where Richard de Middlecote was listed as holding lands at that time. 1 "The ancient Shropshire family of Medlicott, which took its name from a manor, flourished in the 13th century. The Medlycott family of Ven House, Milborne Port, Somerset, originally came from Shropshire." 2

Early History of the Motley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Motley research. Another 154 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1586, 1593 and 1625 are included under the topic Early Motley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Motley Spelling Variations

Although there are not an extremely large number Welsh surnames, there are an inordinately large number of spelling variations of those surnames. This variety of spellings began almost immediately after the acceptance of surnames within Welsh society. As time progressed, these old Brythonic names were eventually were recorded in English. This process was problematic in that many of the highly inflected sounds of the native language of Wales could not be properly captured in English. Some families, however, did decide to modify their own names to indicate a branch loyalty within the family, a religious adherence, or even a patriotic affiliation. The name Motley has seen various spelling variations: Medlicot, Medlicott, Medlycot, Medlycott, Medlicote, Medleycot, Medleycott, Medleycote, Modlicot, Modlicote and many more.

Early Notables of the Motley family

More information is included under the topic Early Motley Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Motley Ranking

In the United States, the name Motley is the 2,628^th most popular surname with an estimated 12,435 people with that name. 3

Migration of the Motley family to Ireland

Some of the Motley family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Motley migration to the United States +

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many people from Wales joined the general migration to North America in search of land, work, and freedom. These immigrants greatly contributed to the rapid development of the new nations of Canada and the United States. They also added a rich and lasting cultural heritage to their newly adopted societies. Investigation of immigration and passenger lists has revealed a number of people bearing the name Motley:

Motley Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Thomas Motley, who landed in Virginia in 1665 4
John Motley, who arrived in Virginia in 1666 4
Robert Motley, who arrived in Maryland in 1674 4
Mary Motley, who arrived in Maryland in 1678 4

Motley Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Tho Motley, who arrived in Virginia in 1703 4
John Motley, who landed in New England in 1738 4

Motley Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Peter Motley, aged 21, who landed in New York in 1812 4
Peter Motley, 21, who arrived in New York in 1812
W.G. Motley, aged 40, who settled in America, in 1893
Louisa Motley, aged 27, who landed in America, in 1894
William G. Motley, aged 40, who landed in America, in 1895
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Motley Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

John Motley, aged 29, who landed in America from Liverpool, in 1904
James Motley, aged 39, who immigrated to America, in 1905
Thornton N. Motley, aged 47, who immigrated to the United States, in 1907
John Lathrop Motley, aged 31, who immigrated to the United States, in 1910
Warren Motley, aged 27, who immigrated to the United States, in 1910
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Motley migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Motley Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Walter Motley, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749-1752
Walter Motley, Margaret Motley, and Susan Motley, who all settled in Nova Scotia in 1750
Margaret Motley, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
Susan Motley, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750

Motley 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:

Motley Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Joseph Motley, aged 20, a shoemaker, who arrived in Hawkes Bay aboard the ship "Countess of Kintore" in 1875
Mary A. Motley, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Ashmore" in 1882

Contemporary Notables of the name Motley (post 1700) +

Constance Baker Motley (1921-2005), American civil rights activist, lawyer, judge, state senator, President of Manhattan, New York City
Willard Motley (1909-1965), American writer
Archibald John Motley Jr. (1891-1981), American harlem renaissance painter
Ronald L. Motley (1944-2013), American trial attorney, and a principal of Motley Rice LLC
Langhorne Anthony Motley (b. 1938), American diplomat, former United States Ambassador to Brazil (1981–1983)
Dr Eric Lamar Motley (b. 1972), American Vice President of the Aspen Institute
Darryl DeWayne Motley (b. 1960), American former Major League Baseball outfielder
Marion Motley (1920-1999), American Football fullback and linebacker, inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1968
John Lothrop Motley (1814-1877), American historian and diplomat
Clifford T. Motley, American politician, Mayor of De Soto, Missouri, 1973 5
... (Another 15 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Motley 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: Dat cura quietem
Motto Translation: Vigilance ensures tranquility.

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. 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)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 8) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html