Stelly
A surname with several possible roots, most likely a regional or surname-based form that developed in English-speaking areas.
The #8,541 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 80,110 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Stelly is a rare surname whose exact origin is not securely established from standard surname sources. In English-language naming patterns, it may have begun as a reduced or altered form of another surname, or as a local/nicknamed spelling that later became hereditary. The ending -ly is common in English surnames, but by itself does not point to one definite source word.
History
The name is uncommon in the United States and appears to be especially associated with the Gulf South, where many surnames reflect old family lines that were later standardized in spelling. Because the form is rare and not clearly documented in the major reference works provided, its earlier history is difficult to trace confidently. In practice, it should be treated as an established family surname rather than a name with a single universally agreed origin.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Rare surnames like Stelly often survive in small, geographically clustered family networks, which can make them easier to trace genealogically than their sparse census numbers suggest.