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The Origins of the Morleys in England and their Early Appearance in Wales
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John O Morley, Swansea University
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Abstract
This article describes the early history of the Morleys in England and Wales. The surname was well established by the fourteenth century in several English counties especially in Norfolk, Wiltshire and Lancashire where detailed records still exist. In Norfolk, there are frequent occurrences of the name from 1150 onwards with the Barons Morley of Norfolk very prominent medieval figures. Robert, the second baron, and Thomas, the fourth baron, were the most famous, but the direct line of the barons died out in 1442. One branch of this family possibly migrated west to Worcestershire by the sixteenth century and there are several examples of the name found there at this time. From the twelfth century onwards, several Morleys are recorded also in both Wiltshire and Oxfordshire and another important family had evolved independently in Mearley in Lancashire by the early fourteenth century. The latter acquired the estate of Wennington through marriage and a number of the descendants were prominent figures, such as the John Morley of Wennington, born around 1365. This manor and its estate, remained with the Morleys for more than 300 years. One of the early descendants, Nicholas Morley of Hertfordshire, was an MP for that shire and acquired the Glynde estate in Sussex through marriage. His descendants included the Thomas Morley, who was a prominent Sussex ironmaster in the sixteenth century. In Wales, the Morley name is uncommon with Sir John Morley of Llansantffraed in Monmouthshire, being the first prominent person recorded. He was born around 1345, and thought to have been the first son of Baron William Morley of Norfolk. A second person of note was Anthony Morley of Llanwonno in Glamorganshire, born around 1535, who was the second son of the ironmaster Thomas Morley of Glynde. A third person, Walter Morley of Llangathen, appears around the same time in Carmarthenshire, though he was born in Bayton in Worcestershire around 1567. He is thought to be the progenitor of many of the Morleys now living in south Wales.
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Full text of article: PDF (2252 KB)
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Cite as: John O Morley, "The Origins of the Morleys in England and their Early Appearance in Wales ," Annals of Genealogical Research Vol. 9, No. 1 (2013) at http://www.genlit.org/agr/viewarticle.php?id=51
Subject areas: Morleys; England; Wales
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