Wiley (pronounced “WYE-lee”) is a surname of English origin. It was first used as a given name in the 18th century, and it is now more common as a middle name than as a first name.
The Wiley family is of Anglo-Saxon descent and can be traced back to the 12th century in England. The first recorded use of the surname was in 1166, when one William de Wylye was listed in the Yorkshire Pipe Rolls.
The Wileys are an old New England family. The first of the line in America was John Wiley, who emigrated from England to Massachusetts in 1635. His descendants have been prominent in American life ever since. Among them are two United States Senators, Richard B. Wiley (R-IN) and George D. Wiley (D-WI); four members of the House of Representatives; several state governors; numerous college presidents and professors; and many successful businessmen.
John Wiley & Sons, Inc., founded by Charles Wiley in 1807, is one of the world’s leading publishers of scientific, technical, and medical books and journals. The company is headquartered in Hoboken, New Jersey, with offices in 15 countries around the globe.