Show ContentsLilley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Lilley

What does the name Lilley mean?

It was among those Anglo-Saxon tribes that once ruled over Britain that the name Lilley was formed. The name was derived from the popular female personal name Elizabeth, derived from Lyliesis. 1 The name Lilley 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 Lilley family

The surname Lilley 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 Lilley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Lilley 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 Lilley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lilley Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Lilley include Lillie, Lilie, Lilley, Lilly and others.

Early Notables of the Lilley 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 Lilley Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lilley World Ranking

In the United States, the name Lilley is the 3,390th most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. 6 However, in New Zealand, the name Lilley is ranked the 973rd most popular surname with an estimated 769 people with that name. 7 And in the United Kingdom, the name Lilley is the 884th popular surname with an estimated 7,735 people with that name. 8

Migration of the Lilley family to Ireland

Some of the Lilley 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.

Lilley migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Lilley were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records:

Lilley Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Henry Lilley, who landed in Virginia in 1638 10
  • Henry Lilley, who settled in Virginia in 1642
  • Richard Lilley, who settled in Virginia in 1656
  • George Lilley, who arrived in Virginia in 1663 10
  • John Lilley, who landed in Virginia in 1664 10
Lilley Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • James Lilley, who settled in Virginia in 1774
Lilley Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Francis Lilley, aged 31, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Criterion” in 1821 11
  • William Lilley, aged 44, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "John Jay” in 1831 11
  • Hannah Lilley, aged 15, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "John Jay” in 1831 11
  • Mary Lilley, aged 11, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "John Jay” in 1831 11
  • Theresa Lilley, aged 13, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "John Jay” in 1831 11
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Lilley Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Mr. A. Lilley, British settler who arrived in Sydney, Australia aboard the ship "Orontes" in 1903 12
  • Mrs. Lilley, British settler who arrived in Fremantle, Australia aboard the ship "India" in 1904 12
  • Ms. Lilley, British settler who arrived in Fremantle, Australia aboard the ship "India" in 1904 12
  • Mr. Lilley, British settler who arrived in Fremantle, Australia aboard the ship "India" in 1904 12
  • Mr. J. Lilley, British settler who arrived in Fremantle, Australia aboard the ship "India" in 1904 12
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Lilley migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia included the First Fleet and Second Fleet of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

First Fleet
  • Mr. William Lilley, (1750 - 1790), aged 39, British settler convicted at London, England in 1787, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Neptune" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790, may have died on the ship 9
Second Fleet
  • Mr. John Lilley, British settler convicted in Suffolk, England in 1790, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Britannia" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 10
Following the First and Second Fleets, other convicts and early settlers arriving in Australia include:

Lilley Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • William Lilley, English convict from Staffordshire, who was transported aboard the "Albion" on May 17, 1823, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 13
  • Mr. George Lilley, English convict who was convicted in Leicester, Leicestershire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 25th June 1828, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 14
  • Mr. George Lilley, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "David Lyon" on 29th April 1830, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 15
  • Mr. George Lilley, English convict who was convicted in West Riding, Yorkshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Bengal Merchant" on 27th September 1834, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 16
  • Mr. William Lilley, (b. 1814), aged 20, English convict who was convicted in West Riding, Yorkshire, England for 7 years for robbery, transported aboard the "Bengal Merchant" on 27th September 1834, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 16
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Lilley 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:

Lilley Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Captain W. Lilley, British settler travelling from London, UK aboard the ship "Bank of England" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 10th October 1850 17
  • Mr. George Lilley, (b. 1831), aged 32, British farm labourer travelling from London aboard the ship 'Mermaid' arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 16th February 1864 17
  • Mrs. Martha Lilley, (b. 1833), aged 30, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship 'Mermaid' arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 16th February 1864 17
  • Miss Alice Lilley, (b. 1859), aged 4, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship 'Mermaid' arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 16th February 1864 17
  • Mr. Arthur Lilley, (b. 1861), aged 2, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship 'Mermaid' arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 16th February 1864 17
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Lilley (post 1700) +

  • John E. Lilley (b. 1972), retired American professional ice hockey player
  • Alexander Spinning Lilley (1867-1925), American football coach
  • Robert Doak Lilley (1836-1886), American Confederate brigadier general during the American Civil War
  • Jen Lilley, American actress
  • Mial Eben Lilley (1850-1915), Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives
  • Kristina Lilley (b. 1963), American Colombian actress
  • John Lilley (b. 1954), American guitarist, singer, songwriter and guitar teacher
  • Robert "Bob" Lilley (b. 1966), American former soccer player and head coach
  • Taylor Paige Lilley (b. 1988), American professional basketball player
  • ... (Another 29 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
HMS Repulse
  • Mr. Eric Charles Lilley, British Corporal, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 18
  • Harold George Lilley (1920-1939), British Stoker 2nd Class with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 19
  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. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  7. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  8. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  9. Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships
  10. 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)
  11. Ellis Island Passenger Search (Retrieved 24th October 2022).https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/
  12. National Archives Australia Search (Retrieved 24th October 2022). https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au
  13. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Albion voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1823 with 200 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/albion/1823
  14. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
  15. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd June 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/david-lyon
  16. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 7th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bengal-merchant
  17. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  18. HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
  19. Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html

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