Marley (surname)
Marley is an English-language surname with numerous etymological origins. In many cases, the surname is derived from any of several like-named placenames in England, such as those in Devon, Kent, Lancashire (Mearley), Sussex (Marley Farm) and West Yorkshire.[1][2] The placenames in Devon, Kent, and West Yorkshire are, in part, derived from the Old English element leah, meaning "woodland clearing".[2] Early forms of the surname are de Merlai, in about 1145-1165; de Mardele, in 1208; de Marley, in 1285; and de Marleye, in 1306.[1] In the 17th century, the surname was taken to Ireland by a family from Northumbria.[2] However, in some cases the surname in Ireland may be an Anglicised form of the Irish-language Ó Mearthaile[3] (another suggestion is Ó Mearlaigh; it is unlikely to be an Anglicised form of Ó Murghaile).[4] Notable people with the surname include:
- Bob Marley, Jamaican reggae musician
Notable members of Bob Marley's family include:- Rita Marley, singer
- Cedella Marley Booker, singer and writer, and mother of Bob Marley
- Cedella Marley, musician and clothing designer, daughter of Bob Marley
- Damian Marley, reggae musician
- Julian Marley, reggae musician
- Ky-Mani Marley, reggae musician
- Ziggy Marley, reggae musician
- Stephen Marley (musician), son of Bob Marley
- Rohan Marley, former pro football player
- Norval Marley, father of Bob Marley
- Bert Marley, American politician from Idaho
- Mickey Marley, a Northern Irish street entertainer
- Stephen Marley (writer), British author and game designer
- Ella Marley, Fashion designer
Fictional characters:
- Jacob Marley, fictional character in A Christmas Carol
- Elaine Marley, fictional character in "Monkey Island (series)"
References
- 1 2 Reaney, Percy Hilde (1995), Wilson, Richard Middlewood, ed., A Dictionary of English Surnames (3rd ed.), Oxford University Press, p. 299, ISBN 0-19-8631464.
- 1 2 3 Marley Family History, Ancestry.com, retrieved 6 May 2012. This webpage cites Dictionary of American Family Names, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-508137-4.
- ↑ MacLysaght, Edward (1964), A guide to Irish surnames (2nd ed.), Genealogical Book Company, p. 147.
- ↑ MacLysaght, Edward (1964), Supplement to Irish families, Genealogical Book Company, p. 109.