SHIRLEY
The surname Shirley is of English origin and is traditionally associated with the British Isles, particularly England. It is a Christian family name and is typically found among those who trace their ancestry to English-speaking regions.
Its etymology derives from two Old English words: scir, meaning bright or clear, and leah, meaning wood or clearing. Consequently, the name can be interpreted to mean bright wood or clear clearing, signifying a connection to a luminous landscape or settlement.
This surname is locational, originating from various villages named Shirley in Derbyshire, Hampshire, Surrey and the West Midlands. These place names were themselves recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Sirelei and in later sources such as the Feet of Fines of 1461 as Shyrley.
The earliest known spelling of the family name appears in 1219 with the witness named William de Schirle in the Assize Court Rolls of Yorkshire, during the reign of King Henry the First of England. Subsequent early records include Ralph de Shirleye (1318–1319) in the Feet of Fines of Warwickshire and William Shirley (1442–1443) in the Feet of Fines of Surrey.
Church registers provide further evidence of the surname’s use in the Late Medieval and Early Modern periods. A marriage record from 11 November 1561 documents the union of William Sherley and Marie Newton at St. Mary le Bow in London. Another entry, dated 3 June 1635, records the marriage of Jane Shirley and John Drewe in Caterham, Surrey.
A coat of arms associated with a Shirley family demonstrates the heraldic traditions of the name. The shield is described as a red field featuring a silver and black chevron componee. Three gold fleurs-de-lis are placed between the chevron, and the crest consists of an arrangement of three broad arrows: two in saltire and one in a gold vertical position, all featuring silver plumes.
Typical given names associated with the Shirley surname
Male
- Andrew
- David
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Robert
- Stephen
Female
- Ann
- Carol
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Helen
- Jacqueline
- Karen
- Margaret
- Mary
- Patricia
- Rebecca
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Shirley in...
Braille
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Morse
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Did you know?
According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname Shirley are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Garibaldi.
There are approximately 6,073 people named Shirley in the UK. That makes it roughly the 1,561st most common surname in Britain. Around 93 in a million people in Britain are named Shirley.
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
Famous people named Shirley
- Don Shirley - American-Jamaican jazz pianist and composer (1927 to 2013)
- Jerry Shirley - Drummer
- Kellie Shirley - Actress
- Steve Shirley - Businesswoman and philanthropist
- William Shirley - Governor of Massachusetts and then of the Bahamas (1694 to 1771)
- Robert Shirley, 13th Earl Ferrers - Nobleman and politician (1929 to 2012)
- Robert Shirley, 12th Earl Ferrers - Member of the House of Lords (1894 to 1954)
- Bridget Shirley - Figure skater
- Edwin Shirley - Music executive (1948 to 2013)
- Alex Shirley - Scottish professional football player (1921 to 1990)
- Eric Shirley - Steeplechase runner
- Dorinea Shirley - Actress (1899 to 1973)
- Simon Shirley - Australian decathlete
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.