Townley

The surname Townley is of English origin and is locational, deriving from the various places named Towneley or Townley in the counties of Lancashire and Warwickshire. The place name is derived from Old English "tun" meaning a settlement or village and "leah" meaning a clearing.

The Townley family held a seat at Towneley Hall near Burnley in Lancashire for many centuries. They were an influential family in the region and played significant roles in local governance and affairs.

Notable individuals with the surname Townley include Charles Townley (1737-1805), an English country gentleman and collector of antiquities. His vast collection formed the basis of the British Museum's Department of Greek and Roman Antiquities.

Variants of the surname Townley include Townly and Towneley. The family crest of the Townley surname features a red shield with a gold chevron and three silver garbs.

In modern times, the surname Townley can be found not only in the United Kingdom but also in other English-speaking countries where British descendants have settled.

There are approximately 3,210 people named Townley in the UK. That makes it roughly the 2,829th most common surname in Britain. Around 49 in a million people in Britain are named Townley.

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

  • Brian
  • David
  • James
  • John
  • Mark
  • Michael
  • Paul
  • Peter
  • Robert
  • Stephen
  • William

Female

  • Alison
  • Amanda
  • Barbara
  • Christine
  • Elizabeth
  • Emma
  • Gillian
  • Jean
  • Karen
  • Margaret
  • 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.

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