Place of Birth

Maryland
Surname Heritage

England

Medley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancient roots of the Medley family name are in the Anglo-Saxon culture. The name Medley comes from when the family lived in place name Madeley (Staffordshire and Shropshire), Medley in Oxfordshire [1] or a Madely in Gloucestershire. [2] The reason for the multiple local names is because the name generally means “woodland clearing of a man called Mada,” from the Old English personal name + “leah.” [3]

The one exception is Madeley-Market in Shropshire where “the name of this town indicates its situation between two rivers, and the adjunct arose from the grant of a market here, in the time of Henry III., to a community of Cluniac monks at Wenlock, to whom Madeley belonged.” [4] Madley is a small parish, in the union of Dore, hundred of Webtree, in Herefordshire. [4]

Of all the locals, the Staffordshire parish is the oldest as it dates back to Saxon times when it was known as Madanlieg in 975. Both the Staffordshire and Shropshire parishes were entered in the Domesday Book of 1086 and were both listed as Madelie. [5]

Early Origins of the Medley family

The surname Medley was first found in Somerset where Simon atte Middele was listed there 1 Edward I (during the first year of the reign of King Edward I.) [6]

Later Thomas Medlay was listed in Yorkshire in 1419 and Benedict Medley was listed in the Feet of Fines for Warwickshire in 1496. [2]

Early History of the Medley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Medley research.

Medley Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Medley has appeared include Medley, Medleigh, Madley, Madleigh, Medlie, Medlee and many more.

Early Notables of the Medley family (pre 1700)

Distinguished members of the family include Henry Medley (d. 1747), British Vice-Admiral who entered the navy in 1703; was in 1706 a midshipman of the Somerset with Captain Price at the relief of Barcelona; passed his examination on 8 Feb. 1709-1710 (passing certificate); and on 5 Sept. 1710 was promoted by Sir John Norris to be Lieutenant of the Fame, from which a few months later he was moved into the Stirling Castle. In 1717 he was a lieutenant of the Barfleur, flagship of Sir George Byng in the Baltic.

Medley Ranking

In the United States, the name Medley is the 2,191^st most popular surname with an estimated 14,922 people with that name. [7]

Medley migration to the United States +

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Medley arrived in North America very early:

Medley Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

John Medley, who landed in Maryland in 1633-1641 [8]
Robert Medley, aged 16, who landed in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship “Transport” [8]
Elizabeth Medley, who landed in Maryland in 1638 [8]
Robert Medley, who landed in Virginia in 1641 [8]
Henry Medley, who arrived in Maryland in 1650-1651 [8]

Medley Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

A G Medley, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1850 [8]

Medley migration to Australia+

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Medley Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

John Medley, aged 23, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1853 aboard the ship “Marshall Bennett” [9]
Susannah Medley, aged 23, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship “Flora” [10]

Medley migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Medley Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Hephzibah Medley, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship “Queen of the Avon” in 1863
Florence Medley, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship “Queen of the Avon” in 1863
Laura Medley, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship “Queen of the Avon” in 1863
Ernest Medley, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship “Queen of the Avon” in 1863

Medley migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960’s many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. [11]

Medley Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Mr. John Medley, (b. 1609), aged 26, British settler travelling aboard the ship “Expedition” arriving in Barbados in 1636 [12]
Roger Medley, who settled in Barbados in 1672

Contemporary Notables of the name Medley (post 1700) +

William Francis Medley (b. 1952), American Roman Catholic clergyman, Bishop of the Diocese of Owensboro, former priest of the Archdiocese of Louisville
Philip “Phil” Medley (1916-1997), American songwriter, best known for his song “Twist & Shout”
Linda Medley (b. 1964), American comic book author and illustrator
William Thomas “Bill” Medley (b. 1940), American singer and songwriter, best known as one half of The Righteous Brothers singing duo
Z. A. Medley, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Tennessee, 1944 [13]
W. C. Medley, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Arkansas, 1948 [13]
T. W. Medley, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New Mexico, 1912 [13]
Luke Medley, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Tennessee, 1960; Mayor of Cookeville, Tennessee, 1963 [13]
Leila Medley, American Democratic Party politician, Member of Democratic National Committee from Missouri, 2008; Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Missouri, 2008 [13]
Lee Medley, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Texas, 2008 [13]