Littley Family History

Perhaps from a lost place in Bishop's Nympton named with Old English lȳtel + gehæg ‘little enclosure’. Spellings with -u- reflect a SW dialect pronunciation of Old English ȳ. From either Litley in Cheadle, the lost Little Hay in Colton, or Little Hay in Shenstone, all in Staffs and with the same etymology as the place-name in (1).

From Likeley Wood in Wickham Bishops (Essex), which is recorded as Litlehey in 1340, or from any of the other places in Essex such as Littley Green in Great Waltham, Littley Wood in Wethersfield, and Littleys in Ashdon, all of which have the same etymology as that in (1).

Occasionally perhaps from Middle English litel ‘little’ (Old English lȳtel) + eye ‘eye’ (Old English ēage). Compare Mussey. However, no evidence has been found that the 1162 Lincs name became an inherited family name.