HAYLEY
Hayley
Origin and Meaning Hayley is a surname of English origin that is derived from the Old English personal name "Heah-lege", meaning "high clearing" or "hay clearing". It is a toponymic surname, indicating that the original bearers of the name hailed from a place of that name.
History The surname Hayley is believed to have had its earliest instances in the county of Worcestershire in England. The first recorded spelling of the surname is that of Hugo de Haly, dated 1185 in the "Pipe Rolls of Suffolk". The Hayley family was historically associated with landownership, agriculture, and rural life in England.
Variants and Bearers Variants of the surname include Haley, Haly, Hailey, and Hale. Notable bearers of the surname Hayley include William Hayley (1745–1820), an English writer, poet, and biographer, known for his association with William Blake; and Lizzy Hayley, a fictional character in Thomas Hardy's novel "Far from the Madding Crowd".
Modern Distribution In modern times, the surname Hayley is found predominantly in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United States. It remains a relatively uncommon surname compared to more widespread surnames in the English-speaking world.
Famous Individuals
- William Hayley (1745–1820) – English writer and poet.
- Lizzy Hayley – Fictional character in Thomas Hardy's novel "Far from the Madding Crowd".
There are approximately 374 people named Hayley in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around six in a million people in Britain are named Hayley.
Typical given names associated with the surname
Male
- Andrew
- Anthony
- David
- Frank
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Nicholas
- Norman
- Richard
- William
Female
- Elizabeth
- Janice
- Louise
- Lucy
- Margaret
- Marjorie
- Michelle
- Sarah
- Susan
- Tracy
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.