Show ContentsDuley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Duley

What does the name Duley mean?

The Duley surname is generally thought to derive from a place name, perhaps Pont Doylly, or Duilly in Normandy. Alternatively, the Oyler, Ollier and similar spellings could have been derived from the English occupational name for an extractor or seller of oil having derived from the Anglo-Norman French word "olier" from "oile." In northern England linseed oil was commonly derived from flax and used as a substitute for olive oil. 1

The source Old English Bynames notes "There are five Ouillys in Calvados. The DB tenant probably came from Ouilly-le-Basset, or, possibly, from Ouilly-le-Vicomte. The name may also derive from Ouilly-du-Houlley, Ouilly-la-Ribaude or Ouilly-le-Tesson." 2 "Robert de Oilgi was a tenant-in-chief in many counties [of the Domesday Book], and Wido de Oilgi in Oxfordshire" 3

Early Origins of the Duley family

The surname Duley was first found in the Domesday Book of 1086 where Robert Oilgi, Olgi, de Oilgi, de Olgi, de Oilleio was recorded in 1086. 4 Robert de Olleyo, de Oili was recorded in 1135 at Oseney and later in 1140 at Eynsham, Oxfordshire. The same source notes Henry de Olli, Doilli in 1156 and 1163. Later the Curia Regis Rolls for Oxfordshire in 1212 listed Henry de Oly, Dolly. Early Lincolnshire records show Thomas Duly in 1297 and early Staffordshire records show John Dolye in the Assize Rolls of 1272. 2

The source Testa de Nevill, sive Liber Feodorum, temp. Henry III-Edward I. notes Robert Doilli, Oxfordshire, Henry III-Edward I; Richard de Oyli, Oxfordshire; and Henry Doilly, Oxfordshire. 5

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 includes entries for Matilda de Oylly, Dorset; and Dominus de Doyli, Oxfordshire. The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 list Juliana Doyle; Johannes Doyle, et Alicia uxor ejus; and Katerina Doylle 6

Early History of the Duley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Duley research. Another 182 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1071, 1073, 1120, 1129, 1354, 1542, 1573, 1576, 1577, 1585, 1605, 1614, 1616, 1633, 1640, 1641, 1663, 1666, 1677, 1709 and 1815 are included under the topic Early Duley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Duley Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Doyley, D'Oyley, Doyle, D'Oyle, Doylee, Doley, Duley, Duly, Duely, Dueley, Ollie, Oyler, Oylie, D'Oyly, Olley, Oulley, Oullie, Ollie, Owley, Oyly, Oilli, Oiley, L'Oyle and many more.

Early Notables of the Duley family

Thomas D'Oyley (fl. 1585), English antiquary, the second son of Sir Henry D'Oyly, knight, of Pondhall in the parish of Hadleigh, Suffolk; Robert D'Oyley (1542-1577) of Hambleden, Buckinghamshire, who was Sheriff of Oxfordshire in 1573; and Sir Cope Doyley (d. 1633), who inherited Hambleden Manor, Buckinghamshire in 1605. For this illustrious family, there is a...
Another 54 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Duley Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Duley Ranking

the United States, the name Duley is the 9,847th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 7


Duley migration to the United States +



Duley Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Thomas J Duley, aged 29, who immigrated to the United States from Liverpool, in 1892
  • F.J. Duley, aged 29, who settled in America, in 1893
  • Annie Duley, aged 24, who immigrated to the United States, in 1893
Duley Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • H.M. Duley, aged 41, who landed in America, in 1905
  • Herbert M. Duley, aged 45, who immigrated to the United States, in 1909
  • Samuel Duley, aged 60, who landed in America from Gonrock, Scotland, in 1912
  • William Duley, aged 15, who settled in America, in 1919
  • Weldon Duley, aged 50, who landed in America, in 1920

Duley migration to Canada +

Duley Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century
  • Magarete Duley, aged 23, who immigrated to St. John's, Newfoundland, in 1918
  • Nelson Duley, aged 30, who settled in St. John's, Newfoundland, in 1922
  • Phinie Duley, aged 55, who settled in St. John's, Newfoundland, in 1922
  • Cyril Duley, aged 24, who immigrated to St. John's, Newfoundland, in 1924
  • Phena Duley, aged 57, who immigrated to St. John's, Newfoundland, in 1924

Contemporary Notables of the name Duley (post 1700) +

  • Giles Duley (b. 1971), British documentary photographer and photojournalist
  • Margaret Iris Duley (1894-1968), Newfoundland's first novelist
  • Mark Duley, New Zealand choral director and organist


  1. Hanks, Patricia and Flavia Hodges, A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988. Print. (ISBN 0-19-211592-8)
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  4. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  5. Testa de Nevill or "Liber Feodorum" or "Book of Fees," thought to have been written by Ralph de Nevill, for King John (1199–1216)
  6. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  7. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/


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