KERLEY
Kerley
Origin and Meaning
Kerley is a surname of English and Irish origin. The name is derived from the Old French personal name "Charles", which was introduced to England and Ireland by the Normans. Over time, variations such as "Carl" and "Karl" emerged, eventually leading to the surname Kerley.
Distribution and Popularity
The surname Kerley is relatively uncommon in the United Kingdom, with a concentration in regions such as Devon and Cornwall. In Ireland, particularly in County Kerry and County Cork, the name is more prevalent due to historical Irish migration patterns.
Notable Individuals
- Lloyd Kerley (1902–1971) – British artist known for his landscape paintings in oil and watercolours.
- Helen Kerley (b. 1985) – Professional dancer and choreographer from Northern Ireland, known for her work in contemporary dance.
- John Kerley (1933–2018) – English footballer who played as a forward for several clubs in the 1950s and 1960s.
Variants and Derivatives
Variations of the surname Kerley include Kehrli, Curley, and Kearly. These variations reflect the phonetic evolution of the name across different regions and dialects over time.
Coat of Arms
The Kerley family crest typically features symbols such as a lion rampant, which signifies courage and strength, as well as a shield, denoting protection and loyalty. The colours and design elements of the coat of arms can vary depending on the specific branch of the Kerley family.
There are approximately 1,149 people named Kerley in the UK. That makes it roughly the 6,640th most common surname in Britain. Around 18 in a million people in Britain are named Kerley.
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
- Andrew
- Daniel
- David
- James
- John
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Philip
- Ross
- William
Female
- Caroline
- Christine
- Joanne
- Katy
- Lisa
- Mandy
- Margaret
- Mary
- Nicola
- Patricia
- Sarah
- Susan
- Victoria
Similar and related surnames
- Curley
- Carley
- Corley
- Chorley
- Carlye
- Carly
- Curly
- Careley
- Courley
- Coarley
- Cairley
- Careleys
- Courlley
- Corleys
- Kerle
- Karley
- Karly
- Kearl
- Kearlay
- Kearley
- Kearly
- Kehrli
- Keirl
- Kerl
- Kerlay
- Kerlie
- Kerly
- Kerrley
- Kirley
- Kirly
- Korley
- Kurley
- Kurly
- Carely
- Carghley
- Cawrley
- Corlly
- Corly
- Karl
- Karli
- Kerkley
- Kerlo
- Kernley
- Kersley
- Kertley
- Kierl
- Kirl
- Kirli
- Kurl
- Crowley
- Garley
- Gourley
- Graley
- Kirlew
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.