Family name origins & meanings
- English : from the Middle English female personal name Ayleve, Aylgive, Old English Æ{dh}elgifu, composed of the elements æ{dh}el ‘noble’ + gifu ‘gift’, which was borne by a daughter of King Alfred the Great, who became abbess of Shaftesbury.
- English : from the Old Norse byname Eilífr, which is composed of the elements ei ‘always’ + lífr ‘life’.