BODLEY
Bodley
The surname Bodley is of English origin, deriving from the Old English personal name "Boda," meaning a herald or messenger, with the addition of the Old English "leah," meaning a clearing. The name Bodley thus likely originally referred to someone who lived in a settlement or clearing belonging to or associated with Boda.
The Bodley surname is most commonly found in the West Country region of England, particularly in Devon and Somerset. One of the most famous bearers of the Bodley name was Sir Thomas Bodley (1545–1613), an influential diplomat and scholar who founded the Bodleian Library at the University of Oxford.
Over the centuries, variants of the Bodley surname have emerged, including Bodeley, Bodleigh, and Bodly. The Bodley name has been passed down through generations, and many individuals with this surname have made significant contributions to various fields such as literature, academia, and business.
The Bodley surname carries with it a sense of heritage and tradition, reflecting the rich history of the British Isles.
Typical given names associated with the Bodley surname
Male
- Andrew
- Christopher
- David
- Ian
- John
- Kevin
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Richard
- Simon
Female
- Clare
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Gemma
- Gillian
- Hannah
- Jane
- Janet
- Katherine
- Margaret
- Nicola
- Samantha
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Bodley in...
Braille
⠃⠕⠙⠇⠑⠽
Morse
-...----...-...-.--
Semaphore
There are approximately 500 people named Bodley in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around eight in a million people in Britain are named Bodley.
Surname type: Location or geographical feature
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Bodley
- Thomas Bodley - Diplomat and scholar, founder of the Bodleian Library, Oxford (1545 to 1613)
- Mick Bodley - Football player
- George Frederick Bodley - Architect from United Kingdom (1827 to 1907)
- John Edward Courtenay Bodley - Writer (1853 to 1925)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.