As described in historical dictionaries

Patronymica Britannica (1860)

GAUDY. Slay relate to foppery in attire, but is more likely to be of local origin. See Gawdy.

Lower, Mark A (1860) Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom. London: J.R. Smith. Public Domain.


BritishSurnames.uk is a Good Stuff website.