(origin: Local) Derived from Shelley, in Essex, Suffolk, and Yorkshire, England, from Schell, a spring, and ley, a field.

Arthur, William (1857) An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. New York: Sheldon, Blakeman. Public Domain.

SHELLEY. Genealogists assert that the Shelleys " came out of France with AVilliam the Conqueror." Seulle, Shevele, or Sheuile, is found in the lists called the Roll of Battel Abbey. Horsfield's Lewes, ii. ITG. But independently of the fact that there are several places in England called Shelley, (in Suffolk, Essex, Yorkshire, &c.) there is no authenticated, or even imaginary, pedigree which ascends beyond the XIV. century. There was formerly near Horsham, in Sussex, (the great habitat oiWn?, family) a park called Shelley, from which they doubtless assumed their name.

Lower, Mark A (1860) Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom. London: J.R. Smith. Public Domain.