Gartley

Gartley is a Scottish and Northern Irish surname of locational origin, derived from the place name "Gartly" in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The name is believed to be of Gaelic origin, meaning “yard” or “garden.”

Origins and Distribution

The surname Gartley is mostly found in Scotland and Northern Ireland, with some individuals also present in England and other parts of the British Isles. The earliest recorded instance of the surname dates back to the 16th century in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, indicating the long-established presence of the Gartley family in the region.

Notable Individuals

  • John Gartley (1805-1884): A renowned Scottish inventor and engineer known for his contributions to the development of early steam-powered machinery.
  • Sophie Gartley: A contemporary artist from Northern Ireland, known for her abstract landscape paintings inspired by the countryside surrounding her ancestral home in Gartly, Scotland.

Variants and Derivatives

Variants of the Gartley surname include variations such as Garthley, Gartlay, and Gartlee, reflecting historical variations in spelling and pronunciation.

References

  • Hanks, Patrick, et al. The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland. Oxford University Press, 2016.
  • Black, George F. The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning, and History. New York Public Library, 1946.

The Gartley surname is a testament to the rich history and diverse origins of British surnames, reflecting the connection of individuals to specific locations and the enduring legacy of ancestral traditions.

There are approximately 120 people named Gartley in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around two in a million people in Britain are named Gartley.

Typical given names associated with the surname

Male

  • David
  • Hugh
  • James
  • John
  • Mark
  • Martin
  • Paul
  • Robert
  • Thomas
  • William

Female

  • Carolyn
  • Deborah
  • Janice
  • Lisa
  • Lorraine
  • Margaret
  • Maria
  • Mary
  • Nicole
  • Sarah
  • Sharon

Similar and related surnames

Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.

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