Surname Stoodley - Meaning and Origin

Stoodley: What does the surname Stoodley mean?

The last name Stoodley is derived from an old English surname, meaning 'one who lived along a steep hillside.' This could refer either to a topographical feature of the land, or to a place of residence near such an area. Historically, the name Stoodley was used to refer to a person from such an environment, either a resident of a particular area, or an occupational worker, such as a miller or farmer who lived or worked nearby. The name has evolved over the centuries, picking up a series of different spellings and usage, and appearing in records as Stoodley, Stoodly and Standly, among others.

The exact origin of the name is unknown, though there have been suggestions that it is a form of the Middle-English name 'Stodle', meaning 'a steep slope or hillside', first appearing in the 12th century. Another suggestion is that it derives from a nickname given to a person's stature, such as a 'strong one', or 'stocky one', taken from the Old-English word 'stod', meaning 'post, wooden stake'.

Regardless of the exact origin of the name, the Stoodley surname is associated with a long and proud history, with members of the family appearing in the records of the Church and the army since the 12th century. Today, the Stoodley name can be found in countries around the world, and is still associated with a sense of strength, perseverance, and resilience.

Stoodley: Where does the name Stoodley come from?

The surname Stoodley is an English surname thought to be derived from a combination of an old English personal name, Stodh and leah, a place name meaning a glade in an area of open land in a wood, derived from Old English leah. Stoodley is not a very common surname today, as there are only about 1,100 people with the name recorded in the United States Census Bureau data. Many people with the Stoodley surname today can trace their lineage back to Yorkshire, England, where the name originates.

In Yorkshire, Stoodley was a popular name given to villages, such as Stoodley and Birkby-Stoodley, as far back as the 13th century. Records show that a John de Stodelede died in 1379 in Kirkby Malzeard, and a Matilda Stodel was the widow of a Sir Thomas Cromwell listed in 1536.

Today, Stoodley is a geographically dispersed surname, with people bearing the surname found in the United Kingdom, Australia, the United States, and Canada. In the United States, many of the Stoodley families settled in Pennsylvania either directly from England or from other areas in the US, with small branches in Iowa, Arkansas, and the lower Midwest. In Canada, the Stoodley surname is found in Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia.

Even though the surname Stoodley saw a decline in popularity over the years, the number of people bearing the name has since seen an increase, with the 2021 population estimated at 1,313 people in the United States.

Variations of the surname Stoodley

The surname Stoodley appears to be of English origin, derived from the Olde English pre 7th Century word 'Stodl', meaning the place where one stood. Its variants in England include Stoodley, Stoddley, Stadleigh, Stodley, Stadley, Stodleigh and Stodle. In America, the surname has diverse spellings, including Stodle, Studley, Studdle, and Studleigh.

There are several different lineages for the surname, the most predominant being the Stoodley family from northern Wiltshire, likely descended from one Robert Stodlai, who held an estate in that area in the 12th century. Another line in Kent is derived from the family of William Stodleghe, recorded in 1325. In addition, the Lincolnshire surname may be derived from a number of spellings of the surname, including Stodeley, Stodell, and Stoadley.

In Scotland, various spellings of the surname appear in the records, including Stoodlie, Studlay, Studlaigh and Studleigh. The Irish variant of the name is Stodle and in Germany, Studla. Some Australian families of this name may have been derived from the name of Stodle or Studley, which were recorded in ports of London, as well as in Manchester, in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Famous people with the name Stoodley

• Quade Stoodley: Australian professional basketball player
• Joshua Stoodley: British musician
• Dorothy Stoodley: British suffragette and activist
• Caroline Stoodley: British journalist and novelist
• Timothy Stoodley: American actor
• Gregory Stoodley: British barrister and judge
• Jason Stoodley: American professional wrestler
• Cat Stoodley: Australian model, actress, and musician
• Mary Stoodley: British politician and Member of Parliament
• Shane Stoodley: Canadian actor

Other surnames

StoodleighStoodly