Recorded in several forms as shown below, this is a genuine Norman surname first introduced into England at the famous Conquest of 1066. These spellings include D'Oyly, Doiley, Dolley, Duley, Olley, Ollie and others. The name is locational from any of the five villages called Ovilly in the region known as Calvados, Normandy, with the first name holders being from either Ovilly le Basset or Ovilly le Vicomte. Locational surnames were amongst the first to be created in the period after 1066 and for some three centuries through to about the year 1350. By that time almost everybody had a hereditary surname. The original holders of this name were granted major estates by King William in gratitude for their support of him. The surname development over the centuries includes many early examples such as Robert Oilgi in the famous Domesday Book of 1086, Henri de Olli of Oxford in 1135, Henry de Oly also of Oxford in 1211, Reginald Duly of Yorkshire and Robert de Doley of Oxford in 1279, and Robert de Oylly of Oxford in 1378. Amongst the many recordings in the city of London is the marriage of Robert D'Oyly and Mary Langley on June 2nd 1745 at St. Paul's, Covent Garden, Westminster. Probably the most famous name association is with Richard D'Oyly Carte (1844 - 1901), the English impresario noted for his productions of the operettas of Gilbert and Sullivan. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Robert de Oilleio. This was dated 1086, in the Domesday Book of Oxford, during the reign of King William 1st, known as "The Conqueror", 1066 - 1086. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was sometimes known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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