1. English, from the surname, itself derived from the place name in the West Midlands, England, from Old English meaning "wood or clearing of Dudda".

2. Irish Gaelic, "black-haired". The Irish Gaelic name Dubhaltach is Anglicized in Ireland as Duald and elsewhere as Dudley. The Irish names Dubhdara and Dara are also Anglicized as Dudley.