Walley
A mainly English surname that usually points to a place name, especially Whalley or a “dweller by the wall/embankment.”
The #7,078 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 65,274 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Most historical sources treat Walley as a local surname, often explained as a reduced or altered form of Whalley. In that reading, it can refer to someone from Whalley in Lancashire, a place-name associated with an Old English personal name and "lea" (woodland clearing). Another explanation links it to Old English "weall" meaning "wall" or "embankment," plus a locative element, giving the sense of someone living by a wall, bank, or raised boundary.
History
19th-century surname dictionaries note Walley as a comparatively modern spelling alongside Whalley and related forms such as Whallay and Qualley. The name appears in English records by the late medieval period and later spread into other English-speaking regions, including the United States. Modern bearers are found especially in England and the U.S.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
One historical note says the Domesday form of Wallasey in Cheshire was recorded as "Walea," showing how unstable these place-name spellings could be.
From the historical record
“ties] WALLEY (Eng.) i Dweller at the Wall (Em- bankment) Lsland or Low Riparian Land [O.E. w(e)all + ig, eg] The Domesday name of Wallasey (Cheshire) was Walea. 2 for Whalley, q.v, WALLHAM, v. Walham, Welham. WALLING (Eng.) the A.-Sax. Wealing =”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)