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Eley History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Citations

Eley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany

Early Origins of the Eley family

The surname Eley was first found in Bavaria, where the name was closely identified in early medieval times with the feudal society which would become prominent throughout European history. The name would later emerge as a noble family with great influence, having many distinguished branches, and become noted for its involvement in social, economic and political affairs. Like many surnames, Eley began as a personal name, a variant of the French name Eloy or Eloi, which itself came from the Latin name Eligius. Eligius comes from the Latin word "eligere," meaning "to elect or choose." As with many personal names dating from that era, Eloy gained its popularity because it had been born by a famous saint; St. Eloy was a 6th century saint who came to be known as the patron saint of smiths and horses.

Early History of the Eley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Eley research. Another 94 words (7 lines of text) covering the year 1541 is included under the topic Early Eley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Eley Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Eloy, Elloy, Eley, Elley, Gloy, Gley, Loy, Ley and many more.

Early Notables of the Eley family

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

Eley Ranking

In the United States, the name Eley is the 6,443^rd most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 1

Eley migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Eley Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Robert Eley, who arrived in Virginia in 1639 2
John Eley, who landed in Virginia in 1649 2
Christopr Eley, who arrived in Virginia in 1651 2
William Eley, who arrived in Maryland in 1668 2

Eley Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Ulderick Eley, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1729 2
Abraham Eley, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1765 2

Eley migration to Australia +

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

Eley Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Abraham Eley, English convict from Nottingham, who was transported aboard the "Adamant" on March 16, 1821, settling in New South Wales, Australia 3
Mr. Thomas Eley, English convict who was convicted in Essex, England for life, transported aboard the "Champion" on 24th May 1827, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 4
Mr. Clapton Eley, English convict who was convicted in Chelmsford, Essex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Equestrian" on 25th January 1844, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Island) 5
John Eley, aged 31, a baker, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "Indian" 6
John Eley, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Indian" in 1849 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Eley 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:

Eley Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Elizabeth Eley, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Jane" in 1841 7
Alfred Eley, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Jane" in 1841 7

Contemporary Notables of the name Eley (post 1700) +

Steve Eley, American speculative fiction author and former podcaster
Charles and William Eley, English founders of Eley Brothers, gun cartridge makers in Edmonton, London in the 1820s
Sir Geoffrey Cecil Ryves Eley CBE JP FLS (1904-1990), British businessman and author from East Bergholt, Suffolk, a director of the Bank of England, High Sheriff of both the County of London (1954-1955) and the City of London (1966-1967), older brother of Maxwell Eley
Geoffrey Howard "Geoff" Eley (b. 1949), British-born historian, known for his studies of Germany
Bridget Katharine Cracroft- Eley CVO JP (b. 1933), British secretary, farmer and magistrate, Lord Lieutenant of Lincolnshire (1995-2008)
Charles Ryves Maxwell Eley OBE (1902-1983), British gold medalist rower at the 1924 Summer Olympics from Samford, Suffolk, younger brother of Geoffrey Eley
Frederick Eley (1866-1951), 1st Baronet, an English banker, Chairman of John Waddington Ltd, Cope & Timmins, Crosse & Blackwell Ltd (1932–1946), the Waldorf Hotel Company, and the Bank of British West Africa (1942–1948)
Brian Ratcliffe Eley (b. 1946), former British Chess Champion, now a fugitive from the British police since 1991
Geoff Eley (b. 1949), British-born historian and Karl Pohrt Distinguished University Professor at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Brigadier-General Eley Parker Denson (1884-1970), American Commanding Officer Seattle Port of Embarkation (1941-1946) 8

Citations +

"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)
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Adamant voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1821 with 144 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/adamant/1821
Convict Records of Australia. Retreived 18th January 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/champion
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 4th May 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/equestrian
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The INDIAN 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Indian.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2012, January 10) Eley Denson. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Denson/Eley_Parker/USA.html