Townley Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Townley last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Townley last name
Meaning of the Townley last name: town clearing. Townley is an English surname from Towneley near Burnley in Lancashire, from Old English tun, "farm", and leah, "clearing". The Towneley family held Towneley Hall for five centuries, and Charles Townley assembled the Townley Marbles now in the British Museum. The last name is common in Lancashire.
Arms associated with the Townley name
Coats of arms associated with the Townley surname follow English heraldry, each set out in a short blazon.
Get your full Townley family history
This is only a glimpse of the Townley story. The full Townley 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 Townley coat of arms. Get the full Townley report.
Townley name FAQ
What does the Townley name mean?
Town clearing. Common variants include Towneley, Townly.
Where does the Townley surname come from?
It originates in England, and is also found in the United States, Canada and Australia.
Is there a Townley coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Townley coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).