Surname Stavely - Meaning and Origin
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Stavely: What does the surname Stavely mean?
Stavely is an English surname of territorial origin, derived from a place name. It comes from the Old Norse words "stafn", which means "stern of a ship", and "lēah", which refers to a forest, glade, or clearing. Thus, when combined, Stavely could imply a 'clearing shaped like the stern of a ship'. This likely indicates geographical features of the area from which the original bearers of the surname hailed. Some believe that this name might originate from Staveley, a small village located in North Yorkshire, or from Staveley in Derbyshire, England. Over time, it has evolved into various forms, including Stavely, Staveley, and others. Like many surnames that derived from place names, this surname was first probably given to the lord or owner of the lands, and then to those who worked and lived in the area. It has a long history, with records dating back as far as the 11th century in England. Today, it is carried by individuals and families globally.
Order DNA origin analysisStavely: Where does the name Stavely come from?
The last name Stavely is most commonly found today in the United Kingdom. It is an English surname which is most prevalent in the north of England, particularly in Yorkshire.
In Newcastle upon Tyne, the Stavely name is one of the top fifty most commonly heard surnames. It is also commonly found in Herefordshire, Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Oxfordshire and Derbyshire.
Stavely is a well-known name in Cheshire, where the Stavely family have held the title of Barons since 1916. The family were originally based in the county of Nottinghamshire, but migrated north to the Scottish borders in the 16th century.
In Scotland, the last name Stavely has a predominance in Galashiels, and in the nearby English county of Northumberland. The name is also found further north in the sparsely populated counties of Aberdeenshire and Banffshire. The Stavely Castle estate has been a part of the family’s holdings since the time of Queen Victoria.
In America, the name Stavely is primarily found in the states of New York, New Jersey, California and Washington, with smaller numbers living in the Midwest and New England states.
Today, anyone with the last name Stavely is likely to be descended from the same original family of English and Scottish settlers.
Variations of the surname Stavely
The Stavely surname is an anglicised version of the early Scottish name "Stapledon," from the village of Stapledon in Lancashire, England. The suffix "-ley" was commonly added to the names of places in the Middle Ages to make them easier to pronounce. The name has been spelled various ways since its introduction into Britain, including Stavely, Stapelton, Stapleton, Stapleford, and Stapledon.
Some of the variants of Stavely include Stapledon, Stapleton, Stapelton, Stapelford, Steepleton, Staplton, Stapleden, Stapledene, Staplen, Stapleford, and Stepleton. Different branches of the family in different areas have different spellings, with some using the double "L" and some using a single "L," and some using "ey" and some using "y." Other spellings also exist, some of which could simply be due to differences in pronunciation.
The Stavely surname is a sept of several larger Scottish clans, including the Clan MacLeod and Clan Sutherland. Other variants, such as Stapleton, may have been adopted by members of other clans, such as the Clan MacLaren.
In other parts of Britain, as well as in other countries, families bearing the Stavely name have often changed their surnames to fit the prevailing dialect and spelling in the locality, thus giving rise to a variety of new surnames such as Steepleton, Stepleton, Stapley, and Cappleton.
Altering the spelling of surnames was a common practice in various parts of the world, as people moved around and had begun to settle in new locations. The practice was especially common in America, where immigrant families sought to fit into their new environment by changing the spelling of their surnames. Today, descendants of the Stavely family may carry different surnames, including Stapleford, Stapleton, Stapledon, Stapelton, Steepleton, Staplton, Staveley, Stavely, Staplen, Stepleton and Cappleton.
Famous people with the name Stavely
- Kristian Staveley-Hayes: an English actor, dancer, and singer best known for appearing as a featured guest on the southern rock/country band Antsy Pantsy’s single, “Get It On”.
- Alan Stavely: a former professional English football goalkeeper, who played for Walsall and Hereford United throughout his career.
- Kenneth Stavely: a former English soccer player who played for Bradford City and Walsall.
- Michael Stavely-Taylor: a British entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist.
- Sir John Stavely: an English politician who served as Member of Parliament for Highgate from 1754 to 1787 and as Prime Minister from November 1783 to March 1784.
- Sir William Stavely: a British Army officer who served as Assistant Adjutant-General of the Forces in Ireland from 1798 to 1806.
- William Staveley: a former English soccer player who played for Sheffield United.
- Rev John Robert Stavely: an Anglican priest who served as the Bishop of Clogher from 1821–1844.
- Lieut. Colonel Sir John William Stavely: an English politician who served as Member of Parliament for Flint from 1874 to 1880.
- Arnold Stavely: a former English soccer player who played for Hull City.