HANDLEY
Handley
Handley is a surname of English origin, derived from the Old English pre 7th Century personal name "Han(d)geleah". The name is geographical in nature, originating from the villages called Handley in Cheshire and Derbyshire. The meaning of the name is "the wood or clearing (leah) associated with Hana", a personal name of uncertain origin.
The Handley surname is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Handelei" in Cheshire, and has since spread throughout the UK and across the world as a result of British emigration. Variants of the name include Handly, Handley, Handlley, Hanley, Hund(h)leby, and Hanby.
Individuals bearing the surname Handley have made significant contributions in various fields, including politics, academia, and the arts. Notable bearers of the Handley surname include Sir Basil Edward Embry Handley, a distinguished Royal Air Force officer, and Giles Handley, an award-winning British author.
Today, individuals with the Handley surname can be found across the United Kingdom and in other English-speaking countries. The name represents a part of British history and heritage, reflecting the diverse and rich tapestry of the country's ancestral roots.
There are approximately 9,883 people named Handley in the UK. That makes it the 940th most common surname in Britain. Around 152 in a million people in Britain are named Handley.
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
Typical given names associated with the surname
Male
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Robert
- Stephen
Female
- Claire
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Janet
- Karen
- Linda
- Lisa
- Margaret
- Nicola
- Patricia
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.