Routley Family History

English (Somerset, Devon, and Cornwall): apparently a habitational name from Great Rutleigh in Northlew (Devon), although this is recorded as Radeclive in medieval documents (see Ratcliffe) and is not found as Rutleigh until as late as 1809.

The surname evidence suggests that the placename may have already developed informally into Rutleigh during the 15th or 16th century.

The placename derives from Old English rēad ‘red’ + clif ‘cliff, bank, steep slope’.