Surname: Bottomley

This is the birth surname of my grandmother, Rita Bottomley (1925-2002). It is a location/habitational name from a hamlet in Calderdale, Yorkshire, called Bottomley. It is derived from the Old English words of 'botm', which can mean broad valley, bottom, ground; and léah, meaning piece of ground or woodland clearing (1)(2).


This is an old name, possibly dating back to the Anglo-Saxons and therefore has many spelling variations, including: Bottomley, Botomley, Bottomly, Bottomlee, Bottomleigh, Botomley, Bottamly, Bottomlie, Bottomlay, Bottomlee, Bottomlea, Bottemley, Bottonlay, Boddomley, Boddonley, Bottonleigh, Bottamley, Bottamlie, Bottemlea (3).

1848 Map of Bottomley (4)

OS Map and satellite view of Bottomley.

References
1) Hanks, P., 2003. Dictionary of American Family Names. OUP USA.
2) Old English Translator. 2018. Old English Translator. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.oldenglishtranslator.co.uk/. [Accessed 24 July 2018].
3)  HouseOfNames. 2018. Bottomley Name Meaning, Family History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.houseofnames.com/bottomley-family-crest. [Accessed 24 July 2018].
4) Lancashire LXXIII (includes: Todmorden.) - Ordnance Survey Six-inch England and Wales, 1842-1952. 2018. View: Lancashire LXXIII (includes: Todmorden.) - Ordnance Survey Six-inch England and Wales, 1842-1952. [ONLINE] Available at: https://maps.nls.uk/view/102343982. [Accessed 24 July 2018].
5) Where's The Path 3. 2018. Where's The Path 3. [ONLINE] Available at: https://wtp2.appspot.com/wheresthepath.htm. [Accessed 24 July 2018].