Mottley


Mottley is a surname of English origin strongly associated with Ireland. Its roots are obscure, with some French attributes to the Norman Conquest of 1066, others to place names in England. Mottley is very frequently spelled as Motley and the two spellings are often incorrectly used interchangeably, causing some confusion. In general, Mottley tends to be Catholic, while Motley tends to be Protestant and more related to England. However, Mottley is listed in the Irish Catholic convert rolls of the mid 1700s which required Catholics in Ireland to adhere to English rule. Mottley apparently arrived in Ireland from England during Oliver Cromwell's 1649 Irish conquests and concentrated in Counties Carlow, Laois, Wicklow. In the 1916 Irish Easter uprising, a Private W. Mottley was wounded in battle. Mottley can also be encountered in the Caribbean and in Virginia. A large portion of the New World Mottleys, especially Motleys, are of mixed African descent.
Mottley can also be seen as Motlawe, Motlow, and Motleigh. Mottley may refer to the following: