English
The name 'Standley originates from England. It is derived from the habitational name from any of the various places, for example in the counties of Derbyshire, Durham, Gloucestershire, Staffordshire, Wiltshire, and West Yorkshire, England. So called from the Old English word 'stan' meaning stone, and 'leah' meaning wood, clearing. Compiled information from Historical and Private archive's has confirmed that the surname 'Stanley' and or it's variant's, dates as far back as the 13th century were a 'William de Stanleigh', from Wiltshire, England, is recorded on the Hundred Rolls in 1273. The 'Stanley' family who held the earldom of Derby trace their descendant from a companion of 'William the Conqueror', 'Adam de Aldithley', some of his descendants became known by the surname 'Audley', but another branch took the name 'Stanley' when 'Adam de Aldithley's grandson married the heiress to the manor of 'Stanley' in Staffordshire. The founder of the family´s fortune was 'Sir John Stanly', Who married an heiress of West Derby, Lancashire. He became Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and was granted sovereignty over the Isle of Man by King Henry IV. The exact period of settlement in North America has not been definately determined but Information extracted from Public and Civil registry archive's confirm that one of the first settlers was a certain 'Charles Stanley', aged 29, from the city of London, England. He emigrated to North America in 1833. Today, 'Stanley' is the '270th' most common surname in North America.