Lindley Family History

English: habitational name chiefly from two places in Yorkshire called Lindley, one near Otley and another near Huddersfield. In other parts of England, it may be from any of the places called Lindley in Leicestershire or Linley in Shropshire and Wiltshire.

The Wiltshire, Shropshire, and Huddersfield names derive from līn ‘flax’ + lēah ‘wood glade’. The Otley and Leicestershire names derive from lind ‘lime’ + lēah ‘wood’. Possibly also a topographic name for someone residing near a lime-wood or a clearing where flax was grown.

German: topographic name from Lindle or Lindlein for someone living near a small linden (lime tree) stand.