Townsley

Origin

Townsley is a surname of English origin, derived from the Middle English words 'tun', meaning 'town', and 'ley', meaning 'clearing'. This suggests that the surname may have originally been used to describe someone who lived in or near a clearing by a town.

Distribution

The surname Townsley is found predominantly in the United Kingdom, with concentrations in Yorkshire and the surrounding regions. It is relatively rare compared to some other English surnames.

Notable People

  • John Townsley (1828–1913): A British industrialist known for his contributions to the coal mining industry in Yorkshire during the 19th century.
  • Susan Townsley (b. 1965): A contemporary artist from London, known for her abstract paintings inspired by urban landscapes.

Variants

Variants of the surname Townsley include Townley and Townsly. These variations may have arisen due to regional accents and dialects.

Coat of Arms

The Townsley family coat of arms features symbols such as shields, crests, and mottoes which were historically used to identify individuals and families. The specific design of the Townsley coat of arms may vary depending on the branch of the family.

There are approximately 1,899 people named Townsley in the UK. That makes it roughly the 4,393rd most common surname in Britain. Around 29 in a million people in Britain are named Townsley.

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

  • Alexander
  • Andrew
  • David
  • James
  • John
  • Michael
  • Paul
  • Peter
  • Richard
  • Robert
  • Stephen
  • William

Female

  • Andrea
  • Christine
  • Elizabeth
  • Jean
  • Julie
  • Karen
  • Kathleen
  • Linda
  • Margaret
  • Mary
  • Sarah
  • Susan

Similar and related surnames

Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.

BritishSurnames.uk is a Good Stuff website.