Surname Kirley - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'K'
Kirley: What does the surname Kirley mean?
Kirley is a local surname originating in England. It is derived from old English words that mean 'the clearing on the hill'. This surname refers to someone who lived in or near a clearing in the hilly region.
Kirley is also found in other parts of the world such as Ireland, and more recently in the United States and other English-speaking countries.
The Kirley surname is not a very common one, so the people who have this name likely are connected to a small geographical area with a prominent hillside.
Given the surname's origins, someone with the name Kirley is likely to find a strong link with the past, being one with roots in a very specific place. Parts of England and Ireland are undergoing considerable transformation today, and Kirley could have a sense of affiliating themselves with the places they come from.
In addition, people with the name Kirley could feel a strong sense of history since it is traceable to a particular time and location. It could mean having a feeling of belonging and connection to a certain part of the world.
Kirley is one of those unique surnames that may represent more than just a geographical origin. To the person with the name Kirley, it could hold a deeper meaning that is experienced differently.
Order DNA origin analysisKirley: Where does the name Kirley come from?
The last name Kirley is found mainly in Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In Ireland, the name is more commonly found in the southern province of Munster. Specifically, Kirley families are most thickly concentrated in the Barony of Coshlea in the County of Limerick. As of 2017, the population of County Limerick was about 197,000, and there were an estimated 15 Kirley families living there.
The United Kingdom has the second highest concentration of people with the Kirley surname. Specifically, there are several counties in western England that have large populations of Kirley families, including Gloucestershire, Somerset, Devon, and Cornwall. The highest concentration outside of England or Ireland is in the United States. As of 2016, there were an estimated 652 Kirley families living in the United States spread throughout 28 states.
Within the United States, states with the highest concentrations of people with the Kirley surname are Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Michigan, Ohio, and New Jersey. Among these states, Pennsylvania is the state with the highest percentage of the population with the Kirley surname, with an estimated 96 families living there.
Overall, the Kirley surname is common throughout several former British territories, primarily those located in the British Isles. The United States has the third highest population of people with this surname, followed by other nations in Western Europe, including France, Germany, and Switzerland.
Variations of the surname Kirley
The surname Kirley has several variants, spellings, and surnames linked to it. These include Kerley, Kirlay, Kerlay, Kirlo, Kirly, Kirlo, Killey, Kerlee, Kiro and Kirov.
Kirley is a variant of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic name 'O Ciardha'. 'O Ciardha' translates to heir of Ciar, an ancient, pre-10th century High-Kings of Ireland. This surname is found mainly in Ireland, Scotland and Northern England.
Kerley is an English variant of Kirley, found mainly in Lancashire, England. This is often a variation of Killey, which is derived from a location in England. It is thought that the Kirley family originated from Killey, near Bolton.
Kirlo, Kirly, and Kirlo are variants of Kirley found in Russia. It is thought that these spellings were developed due to Russian pronunciation of the name Kirley.
Killey, Kerlee, and Kiro could all be variants of Kirley. Killey could be from the Old English or Anglo Saxon 'Cilfi', which would have been pronounced similarly to Kirley, whilst Kerlee and Kiro could be alternate spellings of Kirley as the result of local dialects.
Kirov is also linked to Kirley. This is a common Russian surname, and is a patronymic form of the given name 'Kir'. It is thought that 'Kir' is a diminutive form of the name Kirley.
Ultimately, the various variants, spellings and surnames of Kirley indicate that it has a rich and varied history. The different spellings across the world suggest that the Kirley family has connections across a range of cultures and geographies.
Famous people with the name Kirley
- Paul Kirley: Actor
- Siobhan Kirley: Singer/Songwriter
- William Kirley: Professional Soccer Player
- P.J. Kirley: Voice Artist
- Ben Kirley: Actor
- Maxine Kirley: Forensic Psychologist
- Melissa Kirley: Actress
- Jay Kirley: Visual Artist
- Zac Kirley: Musician
- Wayne Kirley: Sculptor
- Joanna Kirley: Illustrator
- Harry Kirley: Actor
- Mark Kirley: Art Director
- Clare Kirley: Artist/Writer
- Ian Kirley: Actor/Comedian
- Jody Kirley: Radio Talk Show Host
- Stacy Kirley: Choir Director
- Luke Kirley: Painter
- George Kirley: Writer
- Helen Kirley: Voice Actor