Surname Hertley - Meaning and Origin
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Hertley: What does the surname Hertley mean?
The last name Hertley is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is a locational surname, derived from numerous places called Hertbon or Hartley, which is derived from the Old English words 'heorot' meaning deer and 'leah,' meaning a meadow, thus a meadow where deer graze. Hertley today is mostly associated with the counties of Buckinghamshire and Somerset in England.
Hertley is also a common nickname of the names "Harold" and "Herbert," which were very popular amongst Anglo-Saxons and is a patronymic surname meaning "son of Harold" or "son of Herbert." There are variant spellings of the name, such as Hurley and Hurtley.
The surname Hertley first appeared in the mid-13th century as Haverplet, which was later changed to HertVele, or Hertley. During the Middle Ages, this was a popular place name, which experienced a significant growth in popularity due to its abundant natural resources. People who lived in the area began to adopt the name Hertley as their family surname.
Early records of Hertley indicate that the first known member of the family was Reginald Hartlei who migrated to England some time before the year 1280. Over time, the name spread throughout England with most Hertleys settling in the counties of Buckinghamshire and Somerset.
The Hertley family has a long and distinguished history. Notable members of the family include Charles Robert Hartley (1863-1937), who was a British philosopher, and Harold Hartley (1868-1952), who was a British civil engineer.
Order DNA origin analysisHertley: Where does the name Hertley come from?
The last name Hertley is still relatively common today, particularly in the United States. As of 2020, Hertley is ranked as the 1,711st most common surname in the United States. This rank is up from 1,957 in 1990 while the total number of people with the last name has increased from 13,870 in 1990 to 17,198 in 2020.
Hertley is most heavily concentrated in the Southern United States, particularly Tennessee and Kentucky. It is also found in significant numbers in Arkansas, Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia, and Mississippi. There are some individuals with the last name in California, but it is less common out West.
Within the United States, people with the last name Hertley are almost entirely of Caucasian descent. The original bearer of the name may have been of Anglo-Saxon or Scandinavian origin; there is no known historical record of another group settling in North America bearing this name.
Outside of the United States, there are a very small number of Hertleys in Canada, England, New Zealand, and Australia, as well as a few scattered individuals across continental Europe.
Variations of the surname Hertley
The surname Hertley is believed to have originated in England and possibly in the county of Hertfordshire. This area was named after an ancient tribe called the Heortes or Hearte, and the name Hertley is derived from this old tribal name. There are numerous variants and spellings of the surname throughout history, including Hartley, Hirtley, Hurtly, Hertly, Hartlee, Hartlie, Hirtle, and Hurtlee.
Possibly the earliest known example of the surname can be found in the 14th century when a John Hirtley recorded a property purchase transaction in County Durham in 1347. There are also mentions of Henry Hurtley within the Feudal Aids Rolls of 1377, again in the county of Durham.
Due to its prevalence in the area, Hertley became a common place name and surname throughout the North East of England. Its spread was further encouraged through the heyday of the British Railways in the late 19th century; when traveling labourers often took their place names with them.
Due to its long standing history, there are many surnames that have originated from Hertley and even today, people still carry the name. Examples of these include Hertler, Hartlee, Hertly, Hurtly, and Hartley.
Famous people with the name Hertley
- Johnathan Hertley: American singer-songwriter
- Jenna Hertley: American actress
- Susan Hertley: British actress
- Richard Hertley: English footballer
- Robert Hertley: German opera singer
- Andre Hertley: American football coach
- Lorna Hertley: British fashion designer
- Sheena Hertley: British model
- Tom Hertley: American comedian and actor
- Christine Hertley: Australian journalist