Linley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Etymology of Linley

What does the name Linley mean?

The name Linley belongs to the early history of Britain, it's origins lie with the Anglo-Saxons. It is a product of their having lived in either of the settlements called Linley in Shropshire or Wiltshire, or in one of the places called Lindley in Leicestershire or the West Riding of Yorkshire. The surname Linley is occasionally derived from residence near a limewood or in a clearing where flax was grown. The surname Linley belongs to both the large category of Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads, and to the class of topographic surnames, which were given to people who resided near physical features such as hills, streams, churches, or types of trees.

Early Origins of the Linley family

The surname Linley was first found in Yorkshire at Lindley cum Quarmby, a chapelry, in the parish and union of Huddersfield, Upper division of the wapentake of Agbrigg. 1

"The name is derived from Lindley, Yorkshire, which was held (13th cent.) from Roger de Mowbray by knight service, by William de Rodeville or Rudeville, of Normandy. 2 3

The first record of the family found early rolls was Robert de Linleye who was listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 in Bedfordshire. 4 In Somerset, Augustin Lynleye, was listed there 1 Edward III (during the first years of King Edward III's reign.) 5

Early History of the Linley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Linley research. Another 114 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1570, 1599, 1609, 1732, 1758, 1771, 1795, 1799, 1835 and 1865 are included under the topic Early Linley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Linley Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Linley include Lindlie, Lindly, Lindley, Lindleigh, Lindlee, Lyndley, Lyndly, Lyndlee and many more.

Early Notables of the Linley family

Distinguished members of the family include

Thomas Linley, the Elder (1732-1795), was an early English musical composer, born at Wells in 1732, and was the son of a carpenter. "Being sent on one occasion to execute some carpentering work at Bad...
William Linley, the Younger (1771-1835), was an author and musical composer, and the youngest son of Thomas Linley the Elder. 6

Migration of the Linley family to Ireland

Some of the Linley family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Linley migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Linley were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records:

Linley Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Ann Linley, who landed in Maryland in 1664-1665 7

Linley Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Alexander Linley, who arrived in Maryland in 1828 7

Linley migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Linley Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. James Linley, British Convict who was convicted in Leeds, Yorkshire, England for 15 years, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 25th June 1838, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 8

Contemporary Notables of the name Linley (post 1700) +

Thomas Linley the elder (1732-1795), English composer from Badminton, Gloucestershire who moved to Bath, Somerset; he and his wife had 12 children with 8 surviving, of these seven went on to musical or theatrical careers
Cody Martin Linley (b. 1989), American actor and singer, best known for his role as Jake Ryan in the television series Hannah Montana
Timothy Edward Linley (b. 1982), former English cricketer who played for Surrey (2009-2015)
Edward A. "Ted" Linley (1894-1928), English professional footballer from East Retford, Nottinghamshire who played from 1920 to 1928
Samuel Linley (1760-1778), English musician, the second son of Thomas Linley the elder
Ozias Thurston Linley (1765-1831), English canon of Norwich Cathedral, son of Thomas Linley the elder
Mary Linley (1758-1787), English singer from Bath, Somerset, daughter of Thomas Linley the elder
Maria Linley (1763-1784), English singer from Bath, Somerset, daughter of Thomas Linley the elder
Harry Linley, English professional footballer from Sheffield who played for Huddersfield Town and Halifax Town (1913-1921)
George Linley (1797-1865), English verse-writer and musical composer from Leeds
... (Another 3 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Testa de Nevill or "Liber Feodorum" or "Book of Fees," thought to have been written by Ralph de Nevill, for King John (1199–1216)
The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 19th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel