Surname Bukelly - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'B'
Bukelly: What does the surname Bukelly mean?
The last name Bukelly is an anglicized version of the Irish name Dúbhchaille, which means ‘dark-haired one’. Among the Irish, this surname was established in the province of Connacht in the northwest of the country, especially in the county of Mayo.
The version of the name Bukelly seen today, is likely derived from the old Irish Ua Dubhchabhaill, which translates as ‘offspring of the dark-haired one’. Uniquely, the ‘Ua’ prefix indicated the direct biological male line in place of the standard Gaelic ‘Mac’, or ‘son of’.
The original dark-haired one was likely a figure of legendary strength and determination who inspired a small tribe of people to take his head name. As Ireland was amongst the first countries in Europe to adopt hereditary surnames, the Bukelly name has been retained through the generations since.
Apart from its geographic origin, the Bukelly surname is also associated with the McNally family who were prominent in the same county of Mayo. The McNally’s have been in the region for centuries and it is not uncommon to see both names associated with the same family. There are records of baptisms and marriages where the Bukelly name is coupled with the McNally surname for members of the same family.
In the present day, the name Bukelly is still seen throughout Ireland, and particularly in the old lands of Connacht, as a testament to the legend of the dark-haired one who first took this name.
Order DNA origin analysisBukelly: Where does the name Bukelly come from?
The last name Bukelly is primarily found in the United States, especially predominantly in the Northeastern part of the country. Today, Connecticut and New York have the highest concentration of people with the Bukelly last name. However, it is also common in other states, including Massachusetts, Washington, Ohio, New Jersey, and California. According to the US Census Bureau, about 700 people in the United States have the Bukelly last name.
The vast majority of those with the last name Bukelly are of Irish ancestry. This is likely due to the fact that many Irish immigrants arrived in the United States during the 19th century to escape the potato famine. Over time, many of them settled in the Northeastern states, where there is still a strong Irish-American presence today.
Outside of the United States, the last name Bukelly is most common in Australia. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, about 300 people have the last name Bukelly in that country. Like in the United States, the majority of them have Irish ancestry.
Over the years, the Bukelly last name has evolved and is now pronounced differently in different regions. In the Northeastern US, it is said as “boo-ke-lee”, while in Australia it is pronounced “boo-kul-lee”.
The last name Bukelly is still quite common today, both in the United States and in other countries around the world. Its prevalence is mainly due to the fact that it has Irish roots, which still exist in many parts of the world.
Variations of the surname Bukelly
The most common variants found inspellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Bukelly are Bukelly, Buckley, Bickle, Bukley, Buckelew, Buckely, Buckliss and Buckels. It is considered to be an Irish surname, likely derived from the Irish Gaelic name ‘O’ Buachalla’, which is of uncertain origin. It is believed to be derived either from the Gaelic ‘buachaill’, which means ‘boy’ or ‘servant’, or from the English word ‘buck’, meaning ‘deer’.
The surname Bukelly originated in County Carlow, Ireland, and appears in records dating back to the 11th century. The promoter of the Bukelly surname was Cormac O’Buachalla, who became chief of his clan in 1099.
The spelling of the surname has varied throughout the centuries, appearing in records as Bickle, Bickley, Beckles, Buckelew, Backle, Buckliss, Bukley and more.
The concentration of the Bukelly surname today is chiefly found in Counties Cork, Limerick, Waterford, Galway and Kilkenny.
In addition to the original Irish form of the surname Bukelly, variants of the name can also be found in England, Scotland and Wales. In England, variants such as Buckle, Buckel, Buxall and Buker can be found. In Scotland, variants include Bawick and Beckles. In Wales, variants of the name Bukelly include Bickley, Buxale, Buxall and Buxkel.
In America, the surname Bukelly has taken on a variety of spellings, including Bickell, Bickel, Bickly, Buckley, Bukert, Bukle, Bukowski, Bukowski and Bukowski.
Famous people with the name Bukelly
- Sarah Buckley: Australian midwife, author, and natural birth advocate.
- Elizabeth Buckley: American actress, best known for her role as Kayla Brady on the soap opera Days of Our Lives.
- Bridgette Buckley: American singer-songwriter known for her single "Wikked Lil' Grrrls".
- Nancy Buckley: American actress, primarily known for her portrayal of Anna in the 1994 film Searching for Bobby Fischer.
- Maureen Buckley: Irish female table tennis champion from the 1950s to the 1970s.
- Colin Buckley: Australian actor, best known for his role as Dr. Losamoe on Home and Away.
- John Buckley: American composer, conductor, and arranger best known for his musical theatre productions.
- experience of mission work with indigenous people in Australia, respectively: David and Jenny Buckley.
- Stephen Buckley: English footballer who has played for clubs including Hull City, Stoke City, and Bristol City.
- Patrick Buckley: Irish actor who starred in the thinly-veiled John F Kennedy assassination movie "JFK".