Morley is both a surname and a given name. The name is

toponymic Toponymy, toponymics, or toponomastics is the study of '' toponyms'' (proper names of places, also known as place names and geographic names), including their origins, meanings, usage, and types. ''Toponym'' is the general term for a proper nam ...

, derived from several places in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

—from the

Old English Old English ( or , or ), or Anglo-Saxon, is the earliest recorded form of the English language, spoken in England and southern and eastern Scotland in the Early Middle Ages. It developed from the languages brought to Great Britain by Anglo-S ...

words "mor" ("

marsh In ecology, a marsh is a wetland that is dominated by herbaceous plants rather than by woody plants.Keddy, P.A. 2010. Wetland Ecology: Principles and Conservation (2nd edition). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. 497 p More in genera ...

"), and "le-ah" ("a clearing in the woods"). Notable people with the name include:

Surname

* Aaron Morley (born 2000), English footballer * Ada McPherson Morley (1852–1917), American suffragist and activist * Adrian Morley (born 1977), English rugby league footballer *

Angela Morley Angela Morley (10 March 192414 January 2009) was an England, English composer and Conductor (music), conductor who became familiar to BBC Radio listeners in the 1950s under the name of Wally Stott. Morley provided incidental music for ''The Go ...

(1924–2009), English composer and conductor * Beric Morley (1943–2015), British architectural historian * Bert Morley (1882–1957), English international footballer *

Bill Morley (baseball) William Morley "Jopsey" Jennings (January 23, 1890 – May 13, 1985) was an American football, basketball, and baseball player, coach, and college athletics administrator. Biography Jennings attended college at Mississippi State University in ...

(1890–1985), Major League Baseball second baseman *

Bill Morley William Raymond Morley Jr. (March 17, 1876 – May 27, 1932) was an American college football player, coach, and rancher. Born in New Mexico, he played football at the University of Michigan and Columbia University and was selected as an All-Ame ...

(1876–1932), American football player *

Clarence Morley Clarence Joseph Morley (February 9, 1869 – November 15, 1948) was the 24th Governor of Colorado from 1925 to 1927, serving one two-year term. He was a Republican. Before becoming governor he was a judge in Denver, Colorado. He was a member of ...

(1869–1948), American politician, 24th governor of Colorado, member of the Ku Klux Klan *

Christopher Morley Christopher Darlington Morley (May 5, 1890 – March 28, 1957) was an American journalist, novelist, essayist and poet. He also produced stage productions for a few years and gave college lectures.

(1890–1957), American writer and editor *

Christopher Morley (actor) Christopher Jarman Morley (July 22, 1951 – November 2, 2023) was an American actor and female impersonator. He specialized in cross-dressing roles in television and film, most notably in ''Freebie and the Bean'' (1974) and ''General Hospital'' ...

(1951–2023), American actor *

Dave Morley David Thomas Morley (born 25 September 1977 in St Helens) is an English former footballer. Morley started his career at Manchester City. He made 20 starts for the club's reserve team in 1996–97, and broke into the senior team for the first ...

(born 1977), English footballer *

David Morley (disambiguation) David Morley may refer to: * David Morley (barman) (1967–2004), English barman and murder victim * David Morley (administrator) (born 1954), British diplomat * David Morley (poet), British poet * David Morley (swimmer) (born 1965), Bahamian swim ...

Ebenezer Cobb Morley Ebenezer Cobb Morley (16 August 1831 – 20 November 1924) was an English sportsman. He is regarded as one of the fathers of the Football Association (FA) and modern football. Early life Morley was born at 10 Garden Square, Princess Street in ...

(1831–1924), Football Association pioneer * Edith Morley (1875–1964), English literary scholar *

Edward W. Morley Edward Williams Morley (January 29, 1838 – February 24, 1923) was an American scientist known for his precise and accurate measurement of the atomic weight of oxygen, and for the Michelson–Morley experiment. Biography Morley was born in New ...

(1838–1923), American scientist *

Elizabeth Morley Elizabeth Morley was an English silversmith. Morley was married to the plateworker Thomas Morley, going into the silver business at his death. During her career she was described variously as a smallworker, cutler, toy dealer, goldsmith, and s ...

, 18th-century English silversmith *

Elliot Morley Elliot Anthony Morley (born 6 July 1952) is a British former Labour Party politician, who was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Glanford and Scunthorpe from 1987 to 1997 and then Scunthorpe from 1997 to 2010. In 2009, he was accused by ''The ...

(born 1952), English politician *

Eric Morley Eric Douglas Morley (26 September 1918 – 9 November 2000) was an English television host and the founder of the Miss World pageant and ''Come Dancing'' programme. His widow, Julia Morley, is now head of the pageant and his son, Steve Douglas, ...

(1918–2000), British founder of the Miss World pageant *

Fenton Morley William Fenton Morley was the dean of Salisbury in the Church of England from 1971 until his retirement in 1977. Born on 5 May 1912 and educated at Oriel College, Oxford he was ordained into the priesthood in 1936. His first posts were curacie ...

(1912–1995), English Dean of Salisbury *

Felix Morley Felix Muskett Morley (January 6, 1894 – March 13, 1982) was a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and college administrator from the United States. Biography Morley was born in Haverford, Pennsylvania, his father being the mathematician Frank Mo ...

(1894–1982), American journalist *

Frank Morley Frank Morley (September 9, 1860 – October 17, 1937) was a leading mathematician, known mostly for his teaching and research in the fields of algebra and geometry. Among his mathematical accomplishments was the discovery and proof of the celeb ...

(1860–1937), British mathematician *

Fred Morley Frederick Morley (16 December 1850 – 28 September 1884) was a professional cricketer who was reckoned to be the fastest bowler in England during his prime, and some consider him to be the greatest fast bowler ever. During a 13-year career ...

(1850–1884), British cricketer *

Fred Morley (footballer) Frederick Morley (1 March 1888 – 4 June 1970) was an English professional football inside forward who began his career in England before finishing it in the American Soccer League. He was born in Burslem, England. Career Morley began his c ...

(1888–1970) in England and American Soccer League *

Frederick Morley (organist) Frederick Morley (c. 1850 – 21 April 1929) was an organist and music teacher in Sydney, Australia. He achieved a reputation as organ architect, creating tables of specifications by which many of Sydney's pipe organs were built. History Morley wa ...

(1850–1929) in Sydney, Australia *

George Morley (bishop) George Morley, (27 February 1598 - 29 October 1684) was a senior member of the Church of England from London, who served as Bishop of Worcester from 1660 to 1662, and of Winchester from 1662 to 1684. Early life Morley was born in London, En ...

(1598–1684), English Anglican bishop *

Harry Morley Harry Morley (5 April 1881 – 18 September 1943) was a British painter, etcher and engraver known for his classical and mythological compositions. Early life Morley was born in Leicester where he studied at the Alderman Newton's School and t ...

(1881–1943), British artist *

Henry Morley Henry Morley (15 September 1822 – 14 May 1894) was an English academic who was one of the earliest professors of English literature in Great Britain. He also authored a popular book featuring biographies of notable English writers. Life The ...

(1822–1894), British writer * Henry Morley (cricketer) (1785–1857), English cricketer *

Isaac Morley Isaac Morley (March 11, 1786 – June 24, 1865) was an early member of the Latter Day Saint movement and a contemporary of both Joseph Smith and Brigham Young. He was one of the first converts to Smith's Church of Christ. Morley was present at ma ...

(1786–1865), American early member of the Latter Day Saints * Ivan Morley (born 1966), American painter *

Jack Morley John Cuthbert Morley (28 July 1909 – 7 March 1972) was a Welsh international rugby wing who played rugby union for Newport and rugby league with Wigan. He won 14 caps for Wales in union, and five caps for Wales in rugby league, and was the ...

(1909–1972), Welsh rugby player *

Jefferson Morley Jefferson Morley is an American independent journalist and author. He has written a number of books about American history, particularly the history of the CIA and the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Morley was a ''Washington Post'' writer fo ...

(born 1958), American journalist and author *

John Morley, 1st Viscount Morley of Blackburn John Morley, 1st Viscount Morley of Blackburn, (24 December 1838 – 23 September 1923), was a British Liberal Party (UK), Liberal statesman, writer and newspaper editor. Initially a journalist in the North of England and then editor of the ...

(1838–1923), Secretary of State for India *

John David Morley John David Victor Morley (21 January 1948 – 18 February 2018) was an English writer and novelist. Early life The third and youngest child of the artist and sculptor Patricia Morley (née Booth) and John Arthur Elwell Morley, a District Offic ...

(1948–2018), English novelist *

Karen Morley Karen Morley (born Mildred Linton; December 12, 1909 – March 8, 2003) was an American film actress. Life and career Born Mildred Linton in Ottumwa, Iowa, Morley lived there until she was 13 years old. When she moved to Hollywood, she attended ...

(1909–2003), American actor and political activist *

Lawrence Morley Lawrence Whitaker Morley (February 19, 1920 – April 22, 2013) was a Canadian geophysicist and remote sensing pioneer. He was best known for his studies on the magnetic properties of the oceanic crust and their effect on plate tectonics and for s ...

(1920–2013), Canadian geophysicist *

Lewis Morley Lewis Frederick Morley (16 June 1925 – 3 September 2013) was a photographer. Biography Morley was born in Hong Kong to English and Chinese parents and interned in Stanley Internment Camp during the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong between 19 ...

(1925–2013), English photographer *

Luke Morley Luke Morley (born 19 June 1960 in Camberwell, London, England) is the guitarist, chief songwriter and producer for the hard rock band Thunder from 1989 to present (with a break from 1999–2002, and 2009–2011). Previous to that he was a memb ...

(born 1960), English musician *

Malcolm Morley Malcolm A. Morley (June 7, 1931 – June 1, 2018) was a British-American visual artist and painter. He was known as an artist who pioneered in various styles, working as a photorealist and an expressionist, among many other genres. In 1984, he ...

(1931–2018), British-American artist *

Michael D. Morley Michael Darwin Morley (September 29, 1930 – October 11, 2020) was an American mathematician. At his death in 2020, Morley was professor emeritus at Cornell University. His research was in mathematical logic and model theory, and he is best know ...

(1930–2020), American mathematician * Nathan Morley (born 1974), British television journalist and host * P. J. Morley (1931–2012), Irish politician * Pat Morley (footballer) (born 1965), Irish footballer * Pat Morley, drummer for

Soul Asylum Soul Asylum is an American rock band formed in 1981 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Their 1993 hit " Runaway Train" won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Song. The band was originally called Loud Fast Rules, with a lineup consisting of Dave Pirner ...

from 1983 to 1984 *

Paul Morley Paul Robert Morley (born 26 March 1957) is a British music journalist. He wrote for the ''New Musical Express'' from 1977 to 1983, and has since written for a wide range of publications and written his own books. He was a co-founder of the reco ...

(born 1957), British journalist of the music scene *

Peter Morley (filmmaker) Peter Morley, OBE (26 June 1924 – 23 June 2016) was a German-born British television producer and documentary filmmaker. As a nine-year-old child, he fled Nazi Germany with his elder siblings and moved to England, where he lived until his death ...

(1924–2016), German-born British documentary filmmaker *

Robert Morley Robert Adolph Wilton Morley (26 May 1908 – 3 June 1992) was an English actor who enjoyed a lengthy career in both Britain and the United States. He was frequently cast as a pompous English gentleman representing the Establishment, often in ...

(1908–1992), British actor *

Ruth Morley Ruth Morley (November 19, 1925 – February 12, 1991) was an Austrian-born American costume designer, active from the late 1950s through 1991. She was nominated for Best Costumes-Black and White for her work on ''The Miracle Worker'' during ...

(1925–1991), Austrian-born American costume designer *

Sam Morley Samuel Robertson Morley (May 12, 1932 - January 25, 2014) was an American football end in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins. He played college football at Stanford University and was drafted in the 20th round of th ...

(1932–2014), American football player * Samuel Morley (disambiguation) *

Sean Morley Sean Allen Morley (born March 6, 1971), better known by his ring name Val Venis, is a Canadian retired professional wrestler. He is best known for his tenure in World Wrestling Federation/World Wrestling Entertainment (WWF/WWE) from 1998 to 20 ...

(born 1971), Canadian wrestler * Steve Morley (born 1981), Canadian football player *

Sylvanus Morley Sylvanus Griswold Morley (June 7, 1883September 2, 1948) was an American archaeologist and epigrapher who studied the pre-Columbian Maya civilization in the early 20th century. Morley led extensive excavations of the Maya site of Chichen Itza ...

(1883–1948), American archaeologist *

Thomas Morley Thomas Morley (1557 – early October 1602) was an English composer, music theory, theorist, singer and organist of late Renaissance music. He was one of the foremost members of the English Madrigal School. Referring to the strong Italian inf ...

(1557 or 1558 – 1602), English composer *

Tony Morley William Anthony Morley (born 26 August 1954) is an English former footballer who played as a winger. He played in the Football League for Preston North End, Burnley, Aston Villa, West Bromwich Albion and Birmingham City, as well as playing fo ...

(born 1954), English footballer *

Trevor Morley Trevor William Morley (born 20 March 1961) is an English football manager, former professional association football, footballer and pundit. As a player, he was a Striker (association football), striker who notably played top flight football fo ...

(born 1961), English football player * William Morley (disambiguation)

Given name

* Morley Cowles Ballantine (1925–2009), American editor * Morley Baer (1916–1995), American artist, photographer and teacher *

Morley Callaghan Edward Morley Callaghan (February 22, 1903 – August 25, 1990) was a Canadian novelist, short story writer, playwright, and Television, TV and radio personality. Biography Of Canadian/English-immigrant parentage,Clara Thomas, ''Canadian No ...

(1903–1990), Canadian novelist, short story writer, playwright and broadcaster * Morley Griswold (1890–1951), American politician, 16th governor of Nevada * Morley Kamen, also known as

Morley (singer) Morley Kamen, known professionally as Morley, is an American singer-songwriter, recording artist, music producer, and curator. Her music incorporates a wide variety of world influences, including folk, jazz, soul, and pop. Morley uses music as ...

, American singer-songwriter *

Morley Muse Morley Muse is an Australian renewable energy engineer, and co-founder of iSTEM, a social enterprise supporting women in STEM into STEM education, employment, leadership and entrepreneurship. She won the 2022 Emerging Leader in STEM award fr ...

, renewable energy engineer *

Morley Safer Morley Safer (November 8, 1931 – May 19, 2016) was a Canadian-American broadcast journalist, reporter, and correspondent for CBS News. He was best known for his long tenure on the news magazine ''60 Minutes'', whose cast he joined in 1970 af ...

(1931–2016), Canadian news reporter * Morley Shih (born 1950), Taiwanese lawyer * (モーリー・ロバートソン), American-Japanese television personality

References

{{given name, type=both English-language surnames English toponymic surnames Masculine given names

Surname

Given name

See also

References