Meaning & History
From the given name Shelley It means "wooded clearing" in Irish.
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Type Surname (from given name & from location)
Usage English, Irish (Anglicized)
Other Forms FormsÓ Sealbhaigh (Irish Gaelic), Shally, Shalvey, Shalloo, Shealy, Shallow, O'Shallow, O'Shally, O'Shelley, O'Shalvey, Shelly
Meaning & History
Habitational name from any of the three places called Shelley (Essex Suffolk Yorkshire) or from Shelley Plain in Crawley (Sussex). The placenames all derive from Old English scelf "rock ledge, shelf" and leah "woodland clearing". Shortened Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Sealbhaigh "descendant of Sealbhach" a byname from the adjective sealbhach "having possessions wealthy".