Wadley Family History

English: habitational name from numerous places. In southern England this can be derived from Wadley in Faringdon (Berkshire) or perhaps from Whatley (Somerset), Whateley in Kingsbury (Warwickshire), Wheatley (Oxfordshire), or Wheatley in Rayleigh (Essex), the latter of which often appears as Watelegh in the medieval records.

The Berkshire placename derives from the Old English personal name Wada + Old English lēah ‘woodland clearing’. The other placenames derive from Old English hwǣte ‘wheat’ + lēah. Compare Wheatley.

In some instances where the name originates from southeastern England, Wadley may alternatively be a post-medieval variant of Wadlow. In northern England, primarily Durham, this is a habitational name from Wadley in Witton le Wear (Durham).

The placename derives from the Old English personal name Wada, Wadda + Old English lēah.