Arthur, William (1857) An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. New York: Sheldon, Blakeman. Public Domain.
ELY
As described in historical dictionaries
An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names (1857)
(origin: Local) From Ely, a city in Cambridgeshire, England, and signifies the place of willows, from Helig, Cor. Br. and Welsh; Latin, Salix. Greek ??, Ealig, an island; land in waterland. Greek, "E??, a marsh.
Patronymica Britannica (1860)
ELY. A city in Cambridgeshire.
Lower, Mark A (1860) Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom. London: J.R. Smith. Public Domain.
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