Show ContentsLiley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Liley Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Liley

What does the name Liley mean?

The ancient Anglo-Saxon surname Liley came from the popular female personal name Elizabeth, derived from Lyliesis. 1 The name Liley is a metronymic surname, which is derived from the name of the mother. Occasionally, the surname is derived from residence in the settlement of Lilley (meadow where flax was grown) in Hertfordshire or in the place called Lilly in Berkshire. 2 "The Berkshire Lilly seems to be the Lilling-leáh of an Anglo-Saxon charter-Lill-, the fairly common personal name." 3

Early Origins of the Liley family

The surname Liley was first found in Bedfordshire where Alan Lilie was found in the Assize Rolls of 1247. Later in Yorkshire, we found Thomas son of Lylie recorded at Wakefield in 1296. 1

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 had two listings for the family, both in Oxfordshire: Nicholas Lilie; and William Lilie whereas the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed Beatrix Lyly as holding lands there at that time. 4

"Lilley and Lill are ancient Lincolnshire names. There was a Hugh Lilly in the wapentake of 'Aswardhurn,' South Lincolnshire, in the reign of Edward I.; at the same time the names of Lille and Lilie occurred in Oxfordshire." 5

Early History of the Liley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Liley research. Another 192 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1546, 1553, 1560, 1564, 1571, 1578, 1580, 1602, 1605, 1606, 1618, 1652, 1680, 1681 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Liley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Liley Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Liley has been recorded under many different variations, including Lillie, Lilie, Lilley, Lilly and others.

Early Notables of the Liley family

Sir Peter Lely (1618-1680), born Pieter van der Faes, a Dutch painter whose career was nearly all spent in England, where he became the dominant portrait painter to the court. John Lyly (Lilly or Lylie; c.1553-1606), was an English writer, poet, dramatist, playwright, and politician, best known for his books "Euphues, The Anatomy of Wit" (1578) and...
Another 56 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Liley Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Liley family to Ireland

Some of the Liley family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 70 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Liley 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:

Liley Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • William Liley, aged 18, a labourer, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Adamant" in 1874 6
  • Maria Liley, aged 15, a servant, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Adamant" in 1874 6
  • Harriet Liley, aged 13, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Adamant" in 1874 6
  • Mr. Henr E Liley, aged 22, British carpenter who arrived in Napier, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand aboard the ship "Winchester"  in July 1874

Contemporary Notables of the name Liley (post 1700) +

  • Robert James "Rob" Liley (b. 1970), English former rugby union player who played 219 matches from 1995 to 2006
  • John Garin Liley (b. 1967), English former rugby union player from Wakefield, England for the England National Team in 1990, brother of Rob Liley
  • Sir William Liley KCMG, FRSNZ (1929-1983), New Zealand obstetrician and medical researcher
  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  3. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  4. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  5. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  6. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html

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