Contents [hide]

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

Many variations of the name Alley have evolved since the time of its initial creation. In Gaelic it appeared as Mac Amhalghaidh or Mac Amhlaoibh. The former name denotes a son of Auley, while the later denotes a son of Auliffe or a son of Humphrey. They claim descent through the Heremon line of Irish kings. 1

Early Origins of the Alley family

The surname Alley was first found in county Westmeath (Irish: An Iarmhí) in the Irish Midlands, province of Leinster, where at one time the area which is now Ballyloughnoe was once called "McGawley's Country." There is another sept named Mac Amhlaoibh in Gaelic which were a branch of the MacGuires and mainly found in County Fermanagh. This branch gave their name to Clanawley. 2

Early History of the Alley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Alley research. Another 109 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1787 and 1841 are included under the topic Early Alley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Alley Spelling Variations

Irish names were rarely spelled consistently in the Middle Ages. Spelling variations of the name Alley dating from that time include MacAulay, MacAwley, MacAuley, MacAullay, MacAulley, MacAwlay, MacCaulay, MacCawley, MacGawley, Magawley, Cauley, Caulay, McCamley and many more.

Early Notables of the Alley family

Another 34 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Alley Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

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. 3 However, in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Alley is ranked the 761^st most popular surname with an estimated 56 people with that name. 4

Alley migration to the United States +

Thousands of Irish families left for North American shores in the 19th century. These people were searching for a life unencumbered with poverty, hunger, and racial discrimination. Many arrived to eventually find such conditions, but many others simply did not arrive: victims of the diseased, overcrowded ships in which they traveled to the New World. Those who lived to see North American shores were instrumental in the development of the growing nations of Canada and the United States. A thorough examination of passenger and immigration lists has disclosed evidence of many early immigrants of the name Alley:

Alley Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Hugh Alley, who arrived in Lynn, Massachusetts in 1635 5
Hugh Alley, aged 27, British servant who landed in New England in 1635 aboard the ship "Abigail" 5
Hugh Alley, who landed in Lynn, Massachusetts in 1650 5
John Alley, who arrived in Lynn, Massachusetts in 1650 5
Philip Alley, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1655 5
... (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 5
James Alley, who arrived in Virginia in 1703 5
John Alley, who landed in Virginia in 1714 5
Jean Alley, who landed in New York in 1725 5

Alley Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Christian Alley, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1807 5

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" 6
Frances Alley, aged 22, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1851 aboard the ship "Reliance" 6
Maria Alley, aged 26, a farm servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Navarino" 7

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 8

Citations +

O'Hart, John, Irish Pedigrees 5th Edition in 2 Volumes. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1976. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0737-4)
MacLysaght, Edward, Irish Families Their Names, Arms and Origins 4th Edition. Dublin: Irish Academic, 1982. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2364-7)
"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