Whitley Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Whitley last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Whitley last name
Meaning of the Whitley last name: white clearing. Whitley is an English surname from one of several places called Whitley, from Old English hwīt, "white", and lēah, "clearing". The last name is found in Yorkshire, Cheshire and the north-east. Curiously, Whitley Bay, a seaside town on the Northumberland coast, shares the name and became a favourite holiday spot for Tyneside families.
Arms associated with the Whitley name
Heraldry linked with the Whitley surname uses a few strong colours, and each coat of arms has its own blazon.
Get your full Whitley family history
This is only a glimpse of the Whitley story. The full Whitley history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Whitley coat of arms. Get the full Whitley report.
Whitley name FAQ
What does the Whitley name mean?
White clearing. Common variants include Whitly, Whiteley.
Where does the Whitley surname come from?
It originates in England, and is also found in the United States, Australia and Canada.
Is there a Whitley coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Whitley coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Eilert Ekwall, Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-Names; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).