| ![Show Contents]() Charley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Charley is a name of ancient Norman origin. It arrived in England with the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Charley family lived in Worcestershire. The Charley family was originally from Charlett, Normandy, and it is from this place that their surname derives. Charlett comes from a baptismal name which means Charles, which stems from the Old French name, Charlys. As the naming tradition grew in Europe baptismal names began to be introduced in many countries. Baptismal names were sometimes given in honor of Christian saints and other biblical figures. There are hardly any Christian countries in Europe that did not adopt surnames from these religious figures. Early Origins of the Charley familyThe surname Charley was first found in Leicestershire at Charley or Chorley, an extra-parochial liberty, in the union of Loughborough, hundred of West Goscote. "The ancient forest of Charley, or Charnwood, twenty miles in circuit, was disafforested soon after the Conquest; its privileges were restored by Henry II., but finally abolished by Henry III. The Hall is a plain brick building, with pleasant grounds. A society of eremites, of the order of St. Augustine, settled here in the reign of Henry II., by the favour of Robert Blanchmains, Earl of Leicester; but in the time of Edward II. it was united to one at Ulverscroft, where a priory of Regular canons, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, continued until the Dissolution." 1 Charley is also a hamlet in the parish of Farewell, union of Lichfield, S. division of the hundred of Offlow in Staffordshire. Early History of the Charley familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Charley research. Another 62 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1655, 1697, 1706, 1716, 1717 and 1722 are included under the topic Early Charley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Charley Spelling VariationsEndless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Charley, Charly, Charlet, Charlett, Charlette and others. Early Notables of the Charley familyOutstanding amongst the family at this time was Arthur Charlett (1655-1722), Master of University College, Oxford, son of Arthur Charlett, Rector of Collingbourn Ducis, Wiltshire. Charlett was appointed chaplain to the king on 17 Nov. 1697, and held that office until he, in common with certain other of the royal chaplains, was removed in March 1716-1717. In the spring of 1706...
Another 61 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Charley Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Charley RankingIn the United States, the name Charley is the 7,423rd most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 2  Migration of the Charley family to Ireland
Some of the Charley 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.
| Charley migration to the United States | + |
To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Charley or a variant listed above:
Charley Settlers in United States in the 17th Century- Mary Charley, who arrived in Maryland in 1674 3
- William Charley, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1682 3
- Joseph Charley who settled in Pennsylvania in 1683
- Jos Charley, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1683 3
| Charley migration to Canada | + |
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: Charley Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century- Diedis Charley, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
- William Charley, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
| Charley 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: Charley Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century- Mr. William Charley, (b. 1836), aged 38, British settler travelling from England aboard the ship "Varuna" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 27th May 1874 4
- Mrs. Mary Charley, (b. 1836), aged 38, British settler travelling from England aboard the ship "Varuna" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 27th May 1874 4
| Contemporary Notables of the name Charley (post 1700) | + |
- M. J. Charley, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Illinois, 1932 5
- Sir Phillip Charley, President of Agricultural Society
- Charley Pride (1938-2020), American country music singer with thirty-nine number-one hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, the first Black member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, he died from COVID-19
- Charley Scales (1938-2023), American football running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, and Atlanta Falcons
- Charley Winner (b. 1924), American football coach
- Charley Molnar (b. 1961), American football coach
- Charley D. Willingham, American Republican politician, Candidate in primary for Michigan State Senate 4th District, 1948
- Charley Cameron, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Mississippi, 1936 6
- Charley Genever, British poet, Peterborough Poet Laureate 2016
- Charley Wine, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Arkansas, 1948 7
- Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, 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)
- New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 1) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 2) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 26) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
|
Charley migration to the United States 
Charley migration to Canada 
Charley migration to New Zealand 
England
France
Ireland
