Highley Family History

English (Yorkshire and Lancashire): habitational name from High Lee in Luddenden Foot (Yorkshire). This is the main source of the name although in some instances the source may be another place of similar name such as High Legh (Cheshire).

The Yorkshire placename probably derives from Old English hygel ‘hillock’ + lēah ‘woodland clearing’ while the Cheshire placename derives from Old English lēah with later addition of Middle English heigh ‘high’.