Harley Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Harley last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Harley last name
Meaning of the Harley last name: hare wood. Harley is an English surname from Harley in Shropshire, from Old English hara, "hare", or har, "rock", and leah, "wood". Robert Harley, Earl of Oxford, and William S. Harley, co-founder of Harley-Davidson, carried this last name, which is common in America. Harley Street in London is named after the same family.
Arms associated with the Harley name
Coats of arms associated with the Harley surname follow English heraldry, each set out in a short blazon.
Get your full Harley family history
This is only a glimpse of the Harley story. The full Harley 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 Harley coat of arms. Get the full Harley report.
Harley name FAQ
What does the Harley name mean?
Hare wood. Common variants include Harleigh.
Where does the Harley surname come from?
It originates in England, and is also found in the United States, Canada and Australia.
Is there a Harley coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Harley coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).