Harley Family History

English: habitational name from either of two places called Harley (Shropshire Yorkshire). The Shropshire placename derives from Old English hær ‘rock heap of stones’ + lēah ‘woodland clearing’. The Yorkshire placename derives from Old English hara ‘hare’ or hær + hlāw ‘mound hill’ later replaced by lēah.

Irish (Donegal): Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó hEarghaile ‘descendant of Earghal’ a variant of the personal name Fearghal without the initial F-. This name has also become Herley and Hurley. Compare Arrell and Harrell.

Scottish (Fife): habitational name from any of several places called Harlaw in Midlothian Peeblesshire and Berwickshire named in Older Scots with hare ‘gray’ + law ‘hill’.