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The Name of Offley is derived from the Saxon words Offa and Ley. Offa was a common Saxon name and also the name of Offa, King of Mercia (757-96). Ley is a Saxon word meaning clearing or field. There are a number of places that are named Offley. Most of these are in the present-day county of Staffordshire, England, which was the Saxon kingdom of Mercia. There is also a village named Offley in Hertfordshire, England. It is believed that King Offa had a Palace here although there is no archaeological evidence to support this. There are also road names that bear the name of Offley the most well-known one being Offley Road in London, England. This was named after Thomas Offley, Lord Mayor of London 1556. The origin of a Surname is often a place name, therefore it would not be unreasonable to speculate that the origin of the name Offley is from one or more of the places named Offley. At present there seem to be two main branches of the family, one with its origins in Staffordshire, England and one with its origins in Eastern England. A link between these two families has never been found. Therefore, it would not be unreasonable to speculate further, that the Staffordshire branch of the family take their name from one of the places named Offley in Staffordshire, and the Eastern England branch take theirs from Offley in Hertfordshire, England. |
Click on the links above to see where Offley places can be found.
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