Arthur, William (1857) An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. New York: Sheldon, Blakeman. Public Domain.
STANLEY
As described in historical dictionaries
An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names (1857)
(origin: Local) A market-town in Gloucestershire, England. The place of a tin mine, stan, tin, Welsh, ystaen, and ley; or from the Saxon, stan, a stone, and ley--the stony place.
Patronymica Britannica (1860)
STANLEY. Adam de Aldithley or Audeley, lord of Stanley, co. Chester, had two sous; . Liulph, ancestor of the great house of Audeley ; and 2. Adam, whose son William obtained the lands of Stanlegh from his cousin Adam de Audelev, and
Lower, Mark A (1860) Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom. London: J.R. Smith. Public Domain.
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