Show ContentsBattly History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancestors of the Battly surname lived among the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. The name comes from when they lived in either Baddiley in Cheshire, near Nantwich or Badley, a parish in Norfolk. There is also a Badley in Suffolk. 1

Early Origins of the Battly family

The surname Battly was first found in Essex and Suffolk, where the the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list the first of the family. William de Badeleye held estates in Essex and Geoffrey de Badele held estates in Suffolk at that time. 1

Further north, Andrew Badly, was monk of Melrose, c. 1379-1380. 2

Early History of the Battly family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Battly research. Another 281 words (20 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1191, 1273, 1372, 1500, 1626, 1646, 1648, 1649, 1656, 1672, 1704, 1708, 1770, 1772 and 1856 are included under the topic Early Battly History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Battly Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Battly include Batley, Battelay, Bateley, Batelay, Batlee and many more.

Early Notables of the Battly family

Distinguished members of the family include Richard Badiley (fl. 1649-1656), English admiral, apparently a merchant, ship-owner, and ship-captain, whom the course of the civil war called to a more stirring life. 3 John Batteley (1646-1708), was a Kentish antiquary and Archdeacon and Prebendary of Canterbury. He was the son...
Another 48 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Battly Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Battly family

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants: Christopher Batley who sailed to Virginia in 1652 and Jeffry Batley to Barbados in 1679.



  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  3. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print


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