Morley is an English place-name surname that became part of the settled population of Ireland, and also stood in for a Gaelic name of the west.
Where does the Morley name come from?
Morley is a topographic and locative surname of English origin, from places named with elements meaning “moor” and “wood” or “clearing” — a settlement by the moorland wood. In Ireland it has also served as an anglicised form of the Gaelic Ó Murghaile, a Connacht name, by similarity of sound.
Morley in Ireland
The English Morley settled in various parts of the country, while the Gaelic Ó Murghaile strand belongs to County Mayo and the west. As a name of both English and Gaelic origin, Morley is found today across Ireland and among the diaspora in the United States, Canada, Australia and Britain.
Related Irish family names
You may also like Molloy, Milligan, and Barry.
Carry the Morley name with you
We craft heritage gifts for thousands of Irish and Scottish family names — mugs, woven blankets, ornaments and more. To find yours, type it into the search bar at the top of the page, or browse the Morley collection here.
Frequently asked questions
Is Morley an Irish surname?
Morley is found in Ireland both as an English settler name and as an anglicisation of the Gaelic Ó Murghaile of Mayo.
What does Morley mean?
As an English name it means a settlement by the moorland wood; the Gaelic strand is a separate name rendered by similar sound.
Is there a Morley family crest?
Families of the name have heraldic traditions; the crest and tartan artwork on our Morley products is created as decorative heritage artwork to celebrate the name.