MOTLEY
Motley
Origin and Meaning: Motley is a surname of English origin, derived from the Middle English word "motley," which referred to a multi-coloured fabric. It was commonly used to describe a jester or a court fool who wore a motley outfit.
History: The Motley surname is thought to have originated in the Middle Ages when occupational surnames were prevalent. It is likely that the Motley family name was given to individuals who worked as jesters or entertainers in royal courts.
Distribution: The Motley surname is found throughout the United Kingdom, with concentrations in regions historically associated with court and noble households.
Famous Motleys:
- Willard Motley (1909–1965): American author known for his novel "Knock on Any Door."
- John Motley Morehead III (1870–1965): American politician who served as Governor of North Carolina.
- Dr. Henry Motley Morgan (1842–1913): Renowned British physician and medical researcher.
Variants: Variants of the Motley surname include Moteley, Motly, and Mottley.
Coat of Arms: The Motley family crest typically features symbols associated with jesters including a cap with jingles and bells, reflecting the historical association with entertainers and court jesters.
Modern Day: Today, the Motley surname continues to be used by descendants of the original bearers. It can be found around the world, with individuals proudly bearing the historic name.
References:
- Reaney, P. H., & Wilson, R. M. (1991). A Dictionary of English Surnames. Routledge.
- Hanks, P., Coates, R., & McClure, P. (2016). The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland. Oxford University Press.
There are approximately 808 people named Motley in the UK. That makes it roughly the 8,702nd most common surname in Britain. Around 12 in a million people in Britain are named Motley.
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
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Michael
- Paul
- Richard
- Simon
- Thomas
Female
- Alison
- Anna
- Brenda
- Elaine
- Elizabeth
- Jean
- Joyce
- Margaret
- Nicola
- Rebecca
- Sarah
- Susan
- Victoria
Similar and related surnames
- Mottley
- Motl
- Mottl
- Matley
- Motlow
- Mottly
- Maddeley
- Madeley
- Madelly
- Madely
- Madley
- Madly
- Maidley
- Mateley
- Mately
- Matloy
- Matly
- Mattley
- Mattly
- Maudley
- Mawdeley
- Mawdley
- Meadley
- Meadly
- Meddley
- Medlay
- Medley
- Medloy
- Medly
- Mettley
- Middley
- Midley
- Midly
- Mitley
- Modeley
- Modelly
- Modley
- Moodley
- Moodly
- Mudaly
- Mudley
- Muteley
- Mutley
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.