Athey
A surname most likely from a place name or a shortened form of an older personal name, with English and Irish roots both possible.
The #9,736 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 92,744 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Athey is a surname with a somewhat uncertain origin. In English records, it may be a locational name from a minor place name or a reduced form of a name built with Old English elements, while in Ireland it can sometimes reflect an anglicized Irish surname. The ending -ey often appears in old place names meaning an island, river meadow, or area by water, but in this case the exact source is not firmly established.
History
The surname appears in Britain and later in North America, where it is relatively uncommon. Because the name has several plausible explanations and no single standard derivation, different family lines may not share the same origin. Genealogical research on local records is usually needed to determine which historical form a particular Athey family came from.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The spelling Athey is close to the Irish town name Athy in County Kildare, though the surname is not necessarily derived from that place in every case.