Steely

Steely
This interesting and unusual surname is of topographical origin and is derived from the Old English pre 7th Century "stelling" meaning cattle fold, i.e. a place where cattle take shelter from the sun, and the suffix "-ey" implies dweller by; hence, "dweller by the cattle fold". The surname is first recorded in the mid 16th Century (see below). In the modern idiom the surname is found as Steely, Stealy, Stilly and Stealey. Early recordings of the surname from church registers include; Richard Stilly, who married Mary Burges, on May 17th 1660, at St. Margaret Pattens, London; On August 31st 1704, Susan Stilee married Daniel Cardie, at St. Mary Magdelenes, Old Fish Street, London; Adam Stealey, married Elizabeth Weston, on November 21st 1785, at Smethcott, Shropshire, and on November 26th 1786, their daughter Catherine was christened there; on April 3rd 1811, Thomas Stealey married Eliza Miller, at St. Giles, Cripplegate London; and Margaret Stealey married Mathew Pugh, on February 6th 1814, at Habberley, Shropshire. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Margaret Steeley, who married william Tayler, which was dated June 20th 1567, at Lanchester, Durham. during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, known as "Good Queen Bess", 1558 - 1603. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

Surnames reference. 2013.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Steely — Steel y ( [y^]), a. 1. Made of steel; consisting of steel. The steely point of Clifford s lance. Shak. [1913 Webster] Around his shop the steely sparkles flew. Gay. [1913 Webster] 2. Resembling steel; hard; firm; having the color of steel. His… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • steely — [stēl′ē] adj. steelier, steeliest 1. of or like steel, as in hardness 2. severe; stern [a steely glare] steeliness n …   English World dictionary

  • steely — index rigid, unaffected (uninfluenced) Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • steely — 1580s, from STEEL (Cf. steel) + Y (Cf. y) (2). Figurative meaning “hard and cold as steel” is from c.1500 …   Etymology dictionary

  • steely — ► ADJECTIVE (steelier, steeliest) 1) resembling steel in colour, brightness, or strength. 2) coldly determined; severe. DERIVATIVES steeliness noun …   English terms dictionary

  • steely — [[t]sti͟ːli[/t]] 1) ADJ GRADED: usu ADJ n (emphasis) Steely is used to emphasize that a person is hard, strong, and determined. Their indecision has been replaced by confidence and steely determination... Captain Grenville stared at him steely… …   English dictionary

  • steely — steel|y [ˈsti:li] adj 1.) extremely determined and very strong ▪ a look of steely determination 2.) if someone has steely eyes or is steely eyed, they look very determined 3.) having a grey colour like steel ▪ a steely sky …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • steely — adjective 1) steely light Syn: blue gray, gray, steel colored, steel gray, iron gray 2) steely muscles Syn: hard, firm, toned, rigid, stiff, tense, tensed …   Thesaurus of popular words

  • steely — steel|y [ stili ] adjective 1. ) showing a calm and firm attitude: He had a look of steely determination in his eyes. The steely tone in his voice told her that he was furious. 2. ) steely blue is gray blue in color …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • steely — UK [ˈstiːlɪ] / US [ˈstɪlɪ] adjective 1) showing a calm and firm attitude He had a look of steely determination in his eyes. The steely tone in his voice told her that he was furious. 2) steely blue is grey blue in colour …   English dictionary

  • steely — adjective (steelier; est) Date: 1509 1. resembling or suggesting steel (as in hardness, color, strength, or coldness) < steely determination > < steely blue > 2. made of steel • steeliness noun …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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