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Meaning & History
A surname of uncertain origin found among the Dutch, Flemish and English. In England the name is primarily found in Yorkshire and Devon. Orley may be an adapted form of a French name D'Orley or a nickname for Orlando. As a place name Orley is used in the title of Anthony Trollope's mid 19th century novel 'Orley Farm,' named after a house once owned by the author's family in Harrow, now a borough of London, England. A large preparatory school called Orley Farm School adopted its name based on the novel during the author's lifetime and still operates in Harrow.