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.

Arthur, William (1857) An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. New York: Sheldon, Blakeman. Public Domain.


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

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