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Alley History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Alley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

Early Origins of the Alley family

The surname Alley was first found in Worcestershire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. The Saxon influence of English history diminished after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The language of the courts was French for the next three centuries and the Norman ambience prevailed. But Saxon surnames survived and the family name was first referenced in the 13th century when they held estates in that shire.

Early History of the Alley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Alley research. Another 166 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1041, 1046, 1092, 1153, 1166, 1451, 1455, 1487, 1510, 1539, 1543, 1570, 1600 and 1810 are included under the topic Early Alley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Alley Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Alley has been spelled many different ways, including Alye, Allye, Allie, Alley, Aley, Allee, Aleigh and many more.

Early Notables of the Alley family

Distinguished members of the family include

William Alley (1510?-1570), English divine, Bishop of Exeter, a native of Chipping Wycombe, Buckinghamshire...
Queen Elizabeth, out of the great respect she had for Alley, sent him yearly a silver cup for a new year's gift...

Alley Ranking

In the United States, the name Alley is the 2,141^st most popular surname with an estimated 14,922 people with that name. 1 However, in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Alley is ranked the 761^st most popular surname with an estimated 56 people with that name. 2

Alley migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Alleys to arrive in North America:

Alley Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Hugh Alley, who arrived in Lynn, Massachusetts in 1635 3
Hugh Alley, aged 27, British servant who landed in New England in 1635 aboard the ship "Abigail" 3
Hugh Alley, who landed in Lynn, Massachusetts in 1650 3
John Alley, who arrived in Lynn, Massachusetts in 1650 3
Philip Alley, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1655 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Alley Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Susanna Alley, who arrived in Virginia in 1700 3
James Alley, who arrived in Virginia in 1703 3
John Alley, who landed in Virginia in 1714 3
Jean Alley, who landed in New York in 1725 3

Alley Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Christian Alley, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1807 3

Alley migration to Australia +

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

Alley Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Henry Alley, aged 24, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1851 aboard the ship "Reliance" 4
Frances Alley, aged 22, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1851 aboard the ship "Reliance" 4
Maria Alley, aged 26, a farm servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Navarino" 5

Alley 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:

Alley Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Charles Alley, aged 26, a brickmaker, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Oliver Lang" in 1856
William Alley, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Mary Shepherd" in 1870

Contemporary Notables of the name Alley (post 1700) +

Kirstie Louise Alley (1951-2022), American two-time Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award winning actress, best known for her roles in Cheers (1982), Veronica's Closet (1997) and Look Who's Talking (1989)
Louise Frances Koury Alley (1927-2015), American radio personality with station KWKH in Shreveport, Louisiana
Zebulon Doyle "Zeb" Alley (1928-2013), American lawyer, lobbyist, and politician
Tom Alley (1889-1953), American racecar driver
Tom W. Alley (b. 1942), former American football player and coach
Lindsey Erin Alley (b. 1977), American actress and singer
Steven James "The Cat" Alley (b. 1953), retired American professional ice hockey player
Vernon Alley (1915-2004), American jazz bassist
Fred Alley (1962-2001), American musical theatre lyricist and librettist
John Bassett Alley (1817-1896), American businessman and politician
... (Another 10 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Alley family +

USS Arizona

Mr. Jay Edgar Alley, American Gunner's Mate First Class from North Carolina, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 6

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
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)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) RELIANCE 1851. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1851Reliance.htm
South Australian Register Monday 14th August 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Navarino 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/navarino1854.shtml
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html