Meaning & History
Pelley is a surname that originated as an Anglicized form of the French name Pellé, a nickname derived from Old French pelé meaning "bald," referring to a hairless person or someone with a shaved head. The original surname Pellé is more common in France, but Pelley emerged among French-speaking populations in English-speaking countries through spelling adaptation.
Notable Bearers
Among the best-known individuals with this surname is Scott Pelley (born 1957), an American television journalist who served as anchor of the CBS Evening News and a correspondent for 60 Minutes. Rod Pelley (born 1984) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League for the New Jersey Devils and Anaheim Ducks. William Dudley Pelley (1890–1965) was an American activist and Nazi sympathizer who founded the Silver Legion of America, a fascist organization active in the 1930s.
Namesakes and Variants
Related forms include the French Pellé, as well as the traditional surname Pelly and the Italian Pelli, all likely to share the same baldness-based origin. The variant le Pelley points to a possible Norman or Channel Islands origin with the definite article.
- Meaning: “Bald” (ultimately from Old French pelé)
- Origin: French (Anglicized form)
- Type: Descriptive surname or nickname
- Usage regions: English-speaking world, especially United States, Canada, UK
Sources: Wikipedia — Pelley