Tunley (surname)

Tunley is an English surname. It is a locational surname, derived from a place name.

The place name "Tunley" is found in at least two locations in England: one in Gloucestershire and another in Cheshire. The name likely originates from Old English, combining "tun" (meaning enclosure, farmstead, or village) and "leah" (meaning a clearing in the woods, or a meadow). Thus, "Tunley" would describe a clearing or meadow near a farmstead or village.

As a surname, Tunley would have originally been adopted by someone who lived in or near one of these places, or who migrated from one of these places to another area and became known by their place of origin.

Variations of the name are relatively uncommon but might include slight spelling alterations due to dialect or scribal errors over time.

Records of the surname Tunley appear in historical documents such as parish registers, census records, and property deeds. Its distribution is primarily within England, reflecting its origins. Genealogical research can provide more specific details about families bearing the surname Tunley and their historical connections to particular regions.