Surname Pawley - Meaning and Origin
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Pawley: What does the surname Pawley mean?
The surname Pawley is an English patronymic surname that derives from the personal name Paul. It comes from the Anglo-Norman French "Paule", a pet form of the name Paul. The name Paul is of Roman origin and means "small" or "humble". In some cases, Pawley could also be a habitational name, derived from Uphawley, a now "lost" hamlet which was once located in the county of Shropshire in England. In this context, the surname means “one who lived near the hawk’s lea (where hawks are trained)", from Old English "hafoc" (hawk) and Old English "leah" (wood or clearing).
Despite the different origins, both suggest a modest, grounded ancestry. Pawley, like many surnames, underwent changes in spelling over time, with variations including Pawley, Pauley, Paulley, and Pawly.
Today, individuals with the surname Pawley can be found in many countries worldwide, including England, the United States, Canada, and Australia, reflecting the broad dispersal of people through historical migration and colonization.
Order DNA origin analysisPawley: Where does the name Pawley come from?
The last name Pawley is most commonly associated with England, where the earliest records of the surname date to the 12th century. By the mid-19th century, the Pawley surname had spread to other parts of the United Kingdom, where it remains today.
Today, the most populous areas with the surname Pawley include Lincolnshire in the east of England and Hampshire in the south. London also has a notable population of residents carrying the Pawley last name.
In addition to England, Pawley families can be found in Scotland, Ireland, and Wales, as well as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. Records suggest that the surname spread from England to other parts of the British Isles and beyond in the 18th century.
Pawley descendants are found throughout the Commonwealth and other English-speaking nations, including South Africa and India. Over time, certain areas have developed their own variations of the Pawley surname, such as Pawleyne (in Lincolnshire), Paley, or Polley.
Today, the Pawley surname is pervasive in English-speaking countries, but remains concentrated in Britain, where it has been for centuries.
Variations of the surname Pawley
The Pawley surname is derived from the Old English given name ‘Paula’ and has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.
Pawley - This is the most common spelling of the surname and is derived from the Old English ‘paule’ meaning little.
Pauly - This spelling is also derived from the Old English ‘paule’, as is the surname ‘Pauley’ and ‘Paulley’.
Pauley - This variant has various spellings such as, Pauley, Paulley, and Pally.
Pauli - This variant is derived from the personal name ‘Paul’, which is derived from the Latin ‘Paulus’, meaning small.
Powley - This spelling is derived from ‘Paule’ and ‘Pawley’, and is sometimes used as an alternative spelling.
Pawly - This spelling is a variation of ‘Pawley’ and is often encountered as an alternative spelling for the surname.
Powles - This is a variant of the surname which is derived from the Old English personal name ‘Paul’.
There are other surnames of the same origin but which have slightly different spellings, such as ‘Paull’, ‘Paell’, and ‘Pauwles’, which can be traced back to the same source.
The Pawley surname can trace its origins as far back as the Domesday book in 1086 and is a popular English surname today.
Famous people with the name Pawley
- Mark Pawley: Canadian sports commentator
- Allan Pawley: Welsh rugby union footballer
- Ed Pawley: American rugby union player
- Ann Pawley: Canadian politician
- Nick Pawley: British film producer
- Ward Pawley: Major League Baseball player
- Daniel Pawley: American singer-songwriter
- Jamie Pawley: English cricketer
- William Pawley Jr: American Diplomat
- George Pawley: British golfer
- Amanda Pawley: American bodybuilding competitor
- Michael Pawley: American astronomer
- Bert Pawley: English football manager
- Stacy Pawley: American horse trainer
- Douglas Pawley: Canadian politician
- Sampson Pawley: British Army officer
- Stephin Pawley: British musician
- Zebedee Pawley: British publican
- Stephen Pawley: Playing field designer
- Billy Pawley: American professional wrestler