Marley (surname)

Marley is an English-language surname with numerous etymological origins. In many cases, the surname is derived from any of several like-named placenames in England, such as those in Devon, Kent, Lancashire (Mearley), Sussex (Marley Farm) and West Yorkshire.[1][2] The placenames in Devon, Kent, and West Yorkshire are, in part, derived from the Old English element leah, meaning "woodland clearing".[2] Early forms of the surname are de Merlai, in about 1145–1165; de Mardele, in 1208; de Marley, in 1285; and de Marleye, in 1306.[1] In the 17th century, the surname was taken to Ireland by a family from Northumbria.[2] However, in some cases the surname in Ireland may be an Anglicised form of the Irish-language Ó Mearthaile[3] (another suggestion is Ó Mearlaigh; it is unlikely to be an Anglicised form of Ó Murghaile).[4] Notable people with the surname include:

Bob Marley, Jamaican reggae musician
Notable members of Bob Marley's family include:
- Rita Marley, singer
- Cedella Marley Booker, singer and writer, and mother of Bob Marley
- Cedella Marley, musician and clothing designer, daughter of Bob Marley
- Damian Marley, reggae musician
- Julian Marley, reggae musician
- Ky-Mani Marley, reggae musician
- Ziggy Marley, reggae musician
- Stephen Marley, son of Bob Marley
- Rohan Marley, former pro football player
- Norval Marley, father of Bob Marley
Bob Marley, American comedian
Bert Marley, American politician from Idaho
Elsie Marley, 18th-century English alewife with a song about her
John Marley, American actor
John Marley, English mining engineer
Mickey Marley, a Northern Irish street entertainer
Stephen Marley, British author and game designer

Fictional characters:

Jacob Marley, fictional character in A Christmas Carol
Elaine Marley, fictional character in Monkey Island (series)

References

Reaney, Percy Hilde (1995), Wilson, Richard Middlewood (ed.), A Dictionary of English Surnames (3rd ed.), Oxford University Press, p. 299, ISBN 0-19-8631464.
Marley Family History, Ancestry.com, retrieved 6 May 2012. This webpage cites Dictionary of American Family Names, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-508137-4.
MacLysaght, Edward (1964), A guide to Irish surnames (2nd ed.), Genealogical Book Company, p. 147.
MacLysaght, Edward (1964), Supplement to Irish families, Genealogical Book Company, p. 109.

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[Reaney-1] Reaney, Percy Hilde (1995), Wilson, Richard Middlewood (ed.), A Dictionary of English Surnames (3rd ed.), Oxford University Press, p. 299, ISBN 0-19-8631464.

[Marley-2] Marley Family History, Ancestry.com, retrieved 6 May 2012. This webpage cites Dictionary of American Family Names, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-508137-4.

[3] MacLysaght, Edward (1964), A guide to Irish surnames (2nd ed.), Genealogical Book Company, p. 147.

[4] MacLysaght, Edward (1964), Supplement to Irish families, Genealogical Book Company, p. 109.