The Harley surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 12,186 people carried this name — #2,943 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 24,200 people counted. That is up 7% from 11,409 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Harley surname

A habitational surname from Old English from the place names.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Harley» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as a local name, from where the family lived: ‘of Harley’.

An early record he cites: Henry de Herley, Berkshire, 1273 — Hundred Rolls.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 360 · public domain.

In Ireland’s birth registers, 1890

Ireland registered 7 births for the Harley name in 1890.

Most were registered in Munster. By the Registrar-General’s own method — births multiplied by 44.38 — that is about 300 people bearing the name in Ireland at the time.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they were born, 1890

Munster 3
Ulster 3
Connacht 1

Registrar-General for Ireland, «Special Report on Surnames in Ireland» (R. E. Matheson, 1894), births index of 1890 — public domain.

In France’s civil register

France’s register of deaths holds 25 people named Harley.

6 of them were born outside France. Those born in France came from 5 départements, most often Paris.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they were born

Born outside France 6
Paris 9
Nord 6
Gironde 2
Aisne 1
Somme 1

Fichier des personnes décédées, INSEE — Licence Ouverte 2.0 · deaths recorded in France since 1970, by place of birth.

In Scotland’s registers today

Harley was recorded 35 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.

That made it the 710th most common name in those registers, shared with others on the same count. In 1975, the first year of the series, the count was 54. Each birth counts the child’s surname, each marriage both partners’ and each death the surname of the person who died — a yearly count of registrations, not of the people who live in Scotland.

National Records of Scotland, «Most Common Surnames, 2025» (published 26 May 2026): every surname recorded 10 or more times in the 2025 registers, and the series from 1975 · different spellings are counted separately — © Crown copyright 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

22 families named Harley, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 136 people lived in those households, 6.2 to a family on average. The table counts it together with 2 other spellings. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

Maryland 5
Pennsylvania 4
South Carolina 4
Maine 3
Virginia 2
North Carolina 2
Massachusetts 1
New York 1

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 244 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Harley in American newspapers,
1845–1896.

Newspaper page from Port-gibson Herald carrying the name Harley
Port-gibson Herald 1845-06-19
Newspaper page from The Portland Daily Press carrying the name Harley
The Portland Daily Press 1862-09-19
Newspaper page from The Anaconda Standard carrying the name Harley
The Anaconda Standard 1896-05-03

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 3,868 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Harley in Australian newspapers,
1810s–2000s.

33,455 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Harley. The most, 6,004, date from the 1930s.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 11,838
Victoria 7,108
Queensland 5,103
South Australia 3,643
Western Australia 3,036
Tasmania 2,482
ACT (Canberra) 156
Northern Territory 17

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Harley.

Who carried it

People named Harley,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Edward Harley d. 1846 · naval officer
  • Martha Harley d. 1797 · novelist
  • John Harley d. 1558 · Anglican priest
  • Thomas Harley d. 1685
  • John B. Harley d. 1846
  • Lady Elizabeth Harley d. 1713

Wikidata (CC0) · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Harley,
in the records of 7 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States1,786 records

1,786 records of the Harley name in the United States
  • Passenger arrivals in the United States, 1820–1912 595
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 382
  • Other U.S. records 809
  1. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Robert Lee Harley

    Born 1949; from Greenwood, Mississippi. U.S. Army, unit supply specialist; died in an accident 1972 in Bien Hoa, South Vietnam. Buried at Corinth National Cemetery, Mississippi.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Sidney K. Harley

    Born 1911 in Florida. Enlisted 1941 at New York City; elevator operator from New York County, New York. U.S. Army veteran; died 1997, buried at Hillandale Memorial Gardens, Covington, Georgia.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Annie Harley

    Arrived at New York in 1885 aboard the Baltic from Liverpool and Queenstown, aged 19; servant. From Berwick, England.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 1,786 records for Harley in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0) · City of Asheville (public domain, PDDL) · New York State, Open NY (police and firefighter memorial rolls). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Australia1,002 records

1,002 records of the Harley name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 524
  • Tasmanian Names Index 181
  • Other Australian records 297
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Hannah Harley

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Emma Eugenia, sailing from London in 1843. Native of Little Stretton, Shropshire. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1846.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Charles Henry Harley

    Died 1890 in George Town, Tasmania, aged 72. Will registered in Tasmania in 1891.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record John Harley

    Arrived in Victoria in 1885 aboard the Gulf of Venice, aged 30; English.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 1,002 records for Harley in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Canada90 records

90 records of the Harley name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 57
  • City of Calgary cemetery records 10
  • Other Canadian records 23
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record John Harley

    Came to Ontario in 1876 aboard the Polynesian, landing at Portland, bound for Sarnia, Ontario; Irish.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Daniel David Harley

    Buried in 2000 at Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 62.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Edna Harley

    Died 1955 in Middle Melford, Guysborough, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.

Showing 3 of 90 records for Harley in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

United Kingdom64 records

64 records of the Harley name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 28
  • Stirling Council burial records 19
  • Other British records 17
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record William Harley

    Died 2000, aged 75; buried at Killearn Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record Allan Langlands Harley

    Born 1899. Died 1918. Named in the University of Edinburgh roll of honour, 1914-1919.

    National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain)
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Jeremiah Harley

    Will proved in 1939.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)

Showing 3 of 64 records for Harley in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain) · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

New Zealand22 records

22 records of the Harley name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 15
  • Marlborough District cemetery records 5
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 2
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Catherine Honora Harley

    Died 1953, aged 66; buried at Linwood Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record James Wynn Harley

    Died 1985, aged 74; buried at Fairhall Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record John Edward Harley

    Died 1984, aged 53; buried at Omaka Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 22 records for Harley in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

France15 records

15 records of the Harley name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Robert Harley

    Born 1905 in Paris; died 1978 in Nice (Alpes-Maritimes).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Antoinette Camille Harley

    Born 1897 in Saleux; died 1977 in Oisemont (Somme).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  3. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Josette Harley

    Born 1911 in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés (Paris); died 1988 in Jouars-Pontchartrain (Yvelines).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 3 of 15 records for Harley in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Netherlands5 records

5 records of the Harley name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch population registers 3
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 2
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record William Harley

    Married in 1741 in Rotterdam.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Population register Hannah Harley

    In the population register of Amsterdam; born 1852 in Manchester.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Amsterdam (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Civil record Jacques Harley

    Baptised in 1649 in Breda.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Breda (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 5 records for Harley in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Harley.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Harley is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

See the Harley volume
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