Motley Surname

35,034th
Most Common
surname in the World

Approximately 15,098 people bear this surname

Most prevalent in:
United States
Highest density in:
Antigua and Barbuda

Motley Surname Definition:

This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'of Motley.' I cannot find the place. It must undoubtedly be sought for in Lincolnshire.

Thomas de Motlawe, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

1570. Robert Dodds and Barbara Mottley: Marriage Lic.

Read More About This Surname

Motley Surname Distribution Map

PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
United States13,7401:26,3803,317
England7431:74,9918,512
Australia1671:161,65116,786
Canada1401:263,18324,832
South Africa901:601,97445,802
New Zealand851:53,2748,505
Wales251:123,7819,267
Scotland201:267,69112,985
Brazil121:17,839,528311,080
France101:6,642,272293,169
Papua New Guinea81:1,019,215101,897
Philippines71:14,462,603238,248
Antigua and Barbuda61:16,5281,436
Israel51:1,711,52784,568
Trinidad and Tobago41:340,99412,383
Germany31:26,835,153452,368
Jersey31:33,0674,675
South Korea31:17,080,0852,793
Ireland31:1,569,64617,286
Puerto Rico21:1,775,0706,602
Russia21:72,061,528727,117
Saint Lucia21:89,3902,918
Vietnam21:46,323,0275,235
Netherlands11:16,887,176156,465
Thailand11:70,638,3451,175,915
Spain11:46,752,036156,870
Turkey11:77,821,422191,047
Peru11:31,784,12364,452
Mexico11:124,126,205103,776
Lithuania11:3,034,58847,401
Japan11:127,844,29373,547
Isle of Man11:85,8224,091
Denmark11:5,644,71593,155
Costa Rica11:4,780,06913,345
China11:1,367,321,56651,149
Chile11:17,616,47493,597
Benin11:10,335,602103,742
Albania11:2,914,05529,474
Afghanistan11:32,153,18360,828
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
Ireland61:738,31121,113
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
England3791:64,3157,406
Wales11:1,568,41619,290
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
United States1,9441:25,8333,178

The alternate forms: Mötley (3) are calculated separately.

Motley (85) may also be a first name.

Motley Surname Meaning

From Where Does The Surname Originate? meaning and history

This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'of Motley.' I cannot find the place. It must undoubtedly be sought for in Lincolnshire.

Thomas de Motlawe, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

1570. Robert Dodds and Barbara Mottley: Marriage Lic. (London).

1660. Buried — John, s. Edward Motley: St. James, Clerkenwell.

A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames (1896) by Charles Wareing Endell Bardsley

(Anglo-French) a nickname [cp. Middle English mottelye, &c., a dress of many colours] (French + English) Dweller at 1 the Mote- Lea [v. under Mote1, and + Middle English ley, Old English leáh] 2 the Mote-Low [Middle English low(e, law(e, Old English hlǽw, a hill, (burial) mound] Thomas de Motlawe.—Yorks Poll-Tax, A.D. 1379.

The Mot- here, however, may represent the Anglo-Saxon name-stem Mód- = O.Ger. Mót- [A.Sax. mód, mind, courage (mood) = O.Sax mód = Old Norse móð-r = O.H.Ger. m(u)ot (mod. mut]

Surnames of the United Kingdom (1912) by Henry Harrison

(English) One who made cloth of a mixed color.

Dictionary of American Family Names (1956) by Elsdon Coles Smith

A parti-coloured dress probably originated this name. Domestic fools and jesters formerly wore it. It may however be local.

Patronymica Britannica (1860) by Mark Antony Lower

From some local name compounded of ley. See LEGG.

Ludus Patronymicus (1868) by Richard Stephen Charnock

Motley Last Name Facts

Where Does The Last Name Motley Come From? nationality or country of origin

The surname Motley occurs most in The United States. It can be found as a variant: Mötley. Click here for other possible spellings of this surname.

How Common Is The Last Name Motley? popularity and diffusion

The last name Motley is the 35,034th most frequently occurring family name globally. It is borne by approximately 1 in 482,683 people. The surname Motley is primarily found in The Americas, where 90 percent of Motley live; 90 percent live in North America and 90 percent live in Anglo-North America. It is also the 1,039,322nd most commonly held first name in the world It is held by 85 people.

This last name is most numerous in The United States, where it is carried by 13,740 people, or 1 in 26,380. In The United States it is most prevalent in: Virginia, where 12 percent reside, Texas, where 9 percent reside and Alabama, where 6 percent reside. Beside The United States it occurs in 38 countries. It is also found in England, where 5 percent reside and Australia, where 1 percent reside.

Motley Family Population Trend historical fluctuation

The prevalency of Motley has changed over time. In The United States the share of the population with the surname rose 707 percent between 1880 and 2014; in England it rose 196 percent between 1881 and 2014; in Wales it rose 2,500 percent between 1881 and 2014 and in Ireland it fell 50 percent between 1901 and 2014.

Motley Last Name Statistics demography

The religious adherence of those bearing the Motley last name is principally Catholic (100%) in Ireland.

In The United States those bearing the Motley surname are 10.73% more likely to be registered Republicans than The US average, with 57.5% registered with the party.

The amount Motley earn in different countries varies notably. In South Africa they earn 19.76% less than the national average, earning R 190,680 per year; in United States they earn 6.86% less than the national average, earning $40,190 USD per year and in Canada they earn 2.67% less than the national average, earning $48,358 CAD per year.

Phonetically Similar Names

SurnameSimilarityWorldwide IncidencePrevalency
Mötley943/
Mottley921,969/
Mostley9218/
Moitley926/
Motlley921/
Modtley921/
Mothley920/
Moley91848/
Motle9172/
Motly9111/
Mottlley861/
Mosley8362,953/
Moleya831,901/
Molley831,666/
Matley831,453/
Mouley83400/
Mottle83190/
Mothle83190/
Motler83140/
Mooley8374/
Mohley8345/
Motlep8339/
Motles8336/
Mutley8322/
Motlhe8321/
Motlae8315/
Moleyi8314/
Moyley8311/
Mmotle8310/
Metley839/
Mootle837/
Moleye836/
Mottly833/
Moutle833/
Motloy833/
Mothly832/
Motlet832/
Motled832/
Moiley831/
Mostle831/
Motlie831/
Moetle831/
Motlay830/
Mootly830/
Mole8028,447/
Moly808,368/
Mottley's801/
Mousley771,683/
Motelle77462/
Mattley77207/
Methley77193/
Mostler77103/
Moisley7793/
Mathley7786/
Mottlee7783/
Motlych7781/
Mottler7773/
Mastley7772/
Mottles7740/
Mettley7734/
Mouleye7724/
Moslehy7714/
Muttley7714/
Moleyah7711/
Motille776/
Moosley775/
Motloyi775/
Mustley773/
Mosleey772/
Mosleys772/
Motliya772/
Moolley772/
Motloue772/
Moutler771/
Mosleyt771/
Mosleyu771/
Mosleyy771/
Mostlle771/
Mothlej771/
Motelly771/
Moulley771/
Moleyee771/
Motlayi771/
Motlhle771/
Motlhoe771/
Moitele771/
Modtler771/
Motlawe771/
Mohtlhe771/
Moitlhe771/
Moitloe771/
Moslhey771/
Molleye771/
Moutlej771/
Matlhey771/
Molloey770/
Moslley770/
Mouhley770/
Moottle770/
Mautley770/
Molya7314,696/
Mouly7312,993/
Molle7311,401/
Moyle7311,169/
Moles7310,918/
Maley7310,912/
Matle738,327/
Moule735,698/
Molly735,075/
Molea734,345/
Moliy734,012/
Mmole733,581/
Moler732,904/
Motla732,657/
Molet731,951/
Moole731,490/
Molay731,184/
Moile73930/
Mutle73768/
Molee73638/
Mohle73577/
Moloy73460/
Mgole73427/
Mohly73415/
Molae73411/
Moily73405/
Molie73387/
Moloe73377/
Mhole73373/
Matly73318/
Mosle73262/
Moleh73214/
Molge73204/
'Mole73144/
Molei73110/
Molez7393/
Moleu7391/
Molyo7363/
Metle7352/
Molue7348/
Molhe7341/
Molej7339/
Molyd7336/
Moled7329/
Muole7325/
Molhy7319/
Molye7318/
Motli7315/
Molep7315/
Mooly7312/
Moleš739/
Mojle739/
Mutly732/
Molje731/
Moûle731/
Moleß731/
Mmoly731/
Motuelle71192/
MacHtley7141/
Mosttler7118/
Mostelle714/
Motlhawe714/
Metelley713/
Mostller712/
Moselley712/
Mouleyat711/
Motlhaje711/
Moutelle711/
Mothlaje711/
Motellie711/
Mothlawe711/
Moitlhoe711/
Moustler711/
Mostleer710/
Moothler710/
Mollya67213,152/
Molloy6740,294/
Moulay6728,108/
Moller6721,544/
Malley6714,872/
Mollet677,353/
Mettle675,218/
Mosler673,264/
Mosteller673,214/
Mmutle673,000/
Maleya672,914/
Moolya672,460/
Mmotla671,994/
Moyles671,803/
Moulet671,770/
Mattle671,464/
Mauley671,460/
Moules671,445/
Moilay671,163/
Molaie671,102/
Molles67826/
Motloi67775/
Masley67758/
Mohule67744/
Motlou67689/
Moulie67549/
Moloyi67539/
Moglie67463/
Molett67444/
Moyler67435/
Mollay67431/
Moliya67409/
Mmetle67393/
Moyleh67374/
Mautle67344/
Moulle67307/
Maetle67280/
Moslhy67277/
Mahley67259/
Mollee67256/
Moiloe67252/
Mutlay67249/
Moloya67248/
Moleus67248/
Mholya67244/
Motlhajoe67243/
Mattly67240/
Mollea67237/
Matlhe67233/
Molayi67215/
Mostiller67209/
Moille67209/
Moliea67208/
Mollie67205/
Moleje67196/
Matles67177/
Moiles67174/
Maleyo67173/
Maleyi67169/
Metlhe67161/
Moolee67158/
Molaya67153/
Moslet67145/
Mgoile67145/
Meuley67143/
Mutlae67126/
Moslhe67123/
Molihe67107/
Molaye67103/
Moleux6796/
Moiler6793/
Molhay6792/
Moloye6778/
Mottla6770/
Matlae6767/
Mollez6764/
Mhatle6762/
Moleah6758/
Metlej6757/
Mmatle6757/
Moolay6754/
Mutlet6753/
Molaiy6751/
Molejo6751/
Matlay6750/
Mouled6749/
Moletz6741/
Moless6738/
Mosloy6736/
Matlep6735/
Malhey6734/
Metlay6733/
Mutloe6732/
Mouler6731/
Matler6731/
Moulee6728/
Mothla6725/
Mutler6724/
Matlee6724/
Moleha6723/
Motlui6722/
Motlha6722/
Motlas6721/
Molowe6721/
Motlap6720/
Mathly6720/
Mootla6719/
Moyloy6719/
Motlai6719/
Motlis6718/
Mohlay6718/
Molayo6718/
Mohlie6717/
Mouleu6717/
Muthle6716/
Molher6716/
'Moole6716/
Mastle6715/
Molesh6715/
Moulei6715/
Mõtlep6715/
Moilie6715/
Mollyo6714/
Moulys6714/
Moleas6713/
Moully6713/
Molaay6713/
Moslee6712/
Moileh6711/
Mathle6711/
Mosles6710/
Mohlue6710/
Moulya679/
Molets679/
Maleye679/
Mholyo679/
Moliej678/
Matloy677/
Moliye677/
Matleu677/
Mouleh676/
Metlie676/
Moolye676/
Moluya676/
Matlet676/
Motlit676/
Motloa676/
Moulea675/
Moutillet675/
Mmolle675/
Metloy675/
Molecz675/
Meetle675/
Moliyo675/
Molije675/
Mohlea675/
Matled675/
Muttle674/
Moolie674/
Motlaa674/
Mahtle674/
Moluyi674/
Modtiller674/
Moslay674/
Mollae674/
Molleh674/
Moolea674/
Mouhly674/
Mutlhe674/
Matlyi674/
Mooler673/
Matlea673/
Matlle673/
Molled673/
Muolee673/
Molyai673/
Matloe673/
Mollyi673/
Moilet673/
Moloyo673/
Matlie673/
Molawe673/
Matlys673/
Maliey672/
Moylet672/
Mollye672/
Moloyd672/
Moilya672/
Mostellet672/
Moylee672/
Maleyt672/
Methle672/
Moosly672/
Moiled672/
Moleis672/
Maleyu672/
Moloue672/
Moutla672/
Malehy672/
Molaeh672/
Mutlep672/
Moslyi672/
Maaley671/
Mgoole671/
Mhaley671/
Mholly671/
Mooles671/
Moolet671/
Moulej671/
Moulge671/
Mosled671/
Mosleu671/
Mosliy671/
Mosluy671/
Mostellez671/
Mostla671/
Motlla671/
Muoler671/
Muolle671/
Mohlle671/
Mohlya671/
Moiliy671/
Moilly671/
Molioy671/
Mollge671/
Matlly671/
Mooloe671/
Matlue671/
Maatle671/
M'Mole671/
Moulep671/
Moulhe671/
Mottli671/
Motlah671/
Motlau671/
Mouloe671/
Mouloy671/
Moulyo671/
Moylle671/
Moslej671/
Mgouly671/
Moolly671/
Moihle671/
Moilee671/
Molleß671/
Moloie671/
Molaïe671/
Moleea671/
Molheu671/
Molhie671/
Molțer671/
Muolyi671/
Mutlya671/
Muthly671/
Mooled671/
Molayy671/
Mgolly671/
Muoloy671/
Muosly671/
Moutli671/
Moilhe671/
Moleie671/
Moleji671/
Moolae671/
Mouthelly671/
Maïley671/
Mholae671/
Molouy670/
Matlez670/
Moloeh670/
Molleu670/
Molech670/
Metlee670/
Moosle670/

Search for Another Surname

The name statistics are still in development, sign up for information on more maps and data

By signing up to the mailing list you will only receive emails specifically about name reference on Forebears and your information will not be distributed to 3rd parties.

Footnotes

  • Surnames are taken as the first part of an person's inherited family name, caste, clan name or in some cases patronymic
  • Descriptions may contain details on the name's etymology, origin, ethnicity and history. They are largely reproduced from 3rd party sources; diligence is advised on accepting their validity - more information
  • Name distribution statistics are generated from a global database of over 4 billion people - more information
  • Heatmap: Dark red means there is a higher occurrence of the name, transitioning to light yellow signifies a progressively lower occurrence. Clicking on selected countries will show mapping at a regional level
  • Rank: Name are ranked by incidence using the ordinal ranking method; the name that occurs the most is assigned a rank of 1; name that occur less frequently receive an incremented rank; if two or more name occur the same number of times they are assigned the same rank and successive rank is incremented by the total preceeding names
  • Ethnic group cannot necessarily be determined by geographic occurrence
  • Similar: Names listed in the "Similar" section are phonetically similar and may not have any relation to Motley
  • To find out more about this surname's family history, lookup records on Family​Search, My​Heritage, FindMyPast and Ancestry. Further information may be obtained by DNA analysis