Astley Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Astley last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Astley last name
Meaning of the Astley last name: east wood or clearing. Astley is an English surname from places called Astley in Lancashire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and Shropshire, from Old English east, "east", and leah, "wood, clearing". Sir Jacob Astley commanded royalist infantry in the Civil War, and Philip Astley founded the modern circus in London in 1768. The last name remains common in Lancashire.
Arms associated with the Astley name
Coats of arms associated with the Astley surname follow English heraldry, each with its own blazon.
Get your full Astley family history
This is only a glimpse of the Astley story. The full Astley 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 Astley coat of arms. Get the full Astley report.
Astley name FAQ
What does the Astley name mean?
East wood or clearing. Common variants include Ashley, Astly.
Where does the Astley surname come from?
It originates in England, and is also found in the United States, Canada and Australia.
Is there a Astley coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Astley coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).