The Alley family is an English originating family that held political positions from the fifteenth century, and throughout the subsequent centuries, with William Alley being the most notable individual of the early Alley family.

Later generations of the Alley Family moved to North America and Australia. The largest branches of the family being located in Massachusetts, Virginia, North Carolina, and New South Wales.

Richarde George Alley (1430–1475) was a Sheriff of London in the fifteenth century.^[1] He was also an active merchant in London, being a member of the Worshipful Company of Skinners.

John Alley (1460–1506) served as a Mayor for Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, at the end of the fifteenth century and beginning of the sixteenth century.^[2] Like his father, he was also a merchant, being prominent in High Wycombe.

William Alley (1483–1570) served as Mayor of Wycombe, Buckinghamshire several times during the sixteenth century.^[3] His was among the wealthiest merchants in High Wycombe, possessing the wealth to send his son William Alley to church school at a young age.

William Alley (1510–1570) was an English clergyman who served as the Bishop of Exeter from 1560 to 1571.^[4] In 1563 he deprived his son of the position of Archdeacon of Cornwall, believing he was not ready for that position. He is buried in Exeter Cathedral.

Roger Alley (1535–1610) was an Archdeacon of Cornwall in 1563 before he was deprived of the position. He later served as a rector and Vicar for Pyworthy.

John Heywood Alley (1778–1850) was an American Sheriff and settler of Western North Carolina. He served as sheriff of Rutherford County, North Carolina from 1809 to 1814. He also served in the North Carolina General Assembly from 1817 to 1818.

Frederick Freeman Alley (1788–1886) was an American Sheriff and brother of John Heywood Alley. He succeeded his brother as sheriff of Rutherford County, North Carolina, serving from 1814 to 1820.

Col. John Heywood Alley Jr. (11 May 1814 – 3 December 1902), was an American military veteran, politician, and sheriff who was the commander for the Confederate Home Guard in North Carolina.

Capt. Hadley Johnson Alley (1833–1903) was an American Sheriff and lawyer who served in the American Civil War. He was also the Prosecuting Attorney, for Mercer County, Missouri.

Felix Eugene Alley (1873–1957) was an American attorney, politician, and superior court judge. He was the son of John Heywood Alley Jr. and also authored several books. As a politician, he served in the North Carolina General Assembly.

Bill Alley (3 February 1919 – 24 November 2004) was an Australian cricketer who played 400 first-class matches for New South Wales, Somerset and a Commonwealth XI. After retiring as a cricketer, Alley continued as a cricket umpire for many years.

Zebulon Alley (August 9, 1928 – July 11, 2013) was an American lawyer, lobbyist, and politician. He was born in Sylva, North Carolina, and he served in the North Carolina State Senate 1971–1973 as a Democrat.

Dr. Robert Sutherland Alley (1932–2006) was an American author and professor of humanitites and constitutional law, best known for his career at the University of Richmond, he was also the head of the religion department at the university.^[5]

Gene Alley is an American former baseball player who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1963 to 1973. He was born in Virginia in 1940 and won the Baseball World Series in 1971.

Kirstie Alley (January 12, 1951 – December 5, 2022) was an American actress. Her breakthrough role was as Rebecca Howe in the NBC sitcom Cheers (1987–1993), for which she received an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe in 1991. She also appeared in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982).

Phil Alley is an Australian former cricket player. He was a left-arm fast bowler. Standing at 208 centimetres tall, he is believed to be Australia's tallest first-class cricketer.

• Richard Alley