This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'at the stile,' from residence thereby. The seeming plural form Stiles or Styles is really the genitive; compare Williams for William ( = William's son). So Styles = Style's son; compare Holmes, Briggs, Brooks. The genitive form in local surnames is almost entirely confined to monosyllabic surnames.

'For som tyme I served Symme atte-Style.': Piers.

See also the suggestions with regard to Still.

Alina de la Stiyrela, Close Rolls, 54 Henry III.

Richard de la Style, Bedfordshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

John Atte Stile, Oxfordshire, ibid.

Robert ate Stiele, Oxfordshire, ibid.

Roger atte Styhill, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

1575. Nicholas Style and Gertrude Bright: Marriage Lic. (London).

1761. Married — Henry Styles and Elizabeth Reader: St. George, Hanover Square.

(English) Dweller by a Stile [Old English stigol, -el] Richard de la Style.—Hundred Rolls

Richardson says-"steps raised to pass over," which is perhaps as good a definition as could be given in so small a number of words; but the styles which are ' passages over a fence so contrived as that cattle cannot make use of them '-as the word might be more elaborately defined-differ nearly as much inter se in different districts, as do the styles of different authors. There is, however, no doubt that the surname, whether it originated in Sussex, in Cornwall, or in Northumberland, (whose thruff-stone styles I shall never forget) was derived from the residence of the first hearer near such a barrier. In the middle ages, the phrase "John at Style" was in common use to denote a plebeian, and it still survives in a slightly altered form in the saying, "Jack Noakes and Tom Styles." See Noakes. H.R. Ate Stile. De la Stile.

A very common name "At the Style"—John Atte Style—John Styles. (See Noakes.)

From Styal; a location name in Cheshire Or from the German, Steil; a personal name.