Surname Cauley - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'C'
Cauley: What does the surname Cauley mean?
The surname Cauley is of Irish origin and is derived from the Gaelic name MacAmhalghaidh. This name is a combination of two elements: 'mac,' meaning 'son of,' and 'Amhalghadh', which is a personal name of uncertain meaning. Some sources suggested that it could mean "inheritor". Due to the phonetic translations during the process of Anglicization (the act of converting anything from its original form to a more English form), MacAmhalghaidh was transformed into several forms such as MacAwley, MacAuley, MacCawley and so on, eventually leading to the modern form Cauley. Like many surnames that originated as patronyms, it would originally have indicated "son of Amhalghaidh". Surnames sibling with Cauley include Cawley, McCauley, MacAuley, etc. Many people with such surnames can be found today in Ireland and the other countries to where the Irish have emigrated, including the USA, Canada, Australia and the UK.
Order DNA origin analysisCauley: Where does the name Cauley come from?
The surname Cauley is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic name "Mac Amhalghaidh". This name comprises two elements: ‘mac’ meaning son and ‘Amhalghaidh’, a personal name which is considered equivalent to the English name Humphrey. The name can be translated as 'son of Amhalghaidh'.
In its original form, the surname is quite prevalent in the Irish Midlands, particularly in the counties of Offaly and Westmeath. Due to emigration over the centuries, this surname - often anglicized to Cauley, McCauley or Macauley - is found not just in Ireland, but scattered in regions across the globe including the United States, Canada, Australia, and the UK. The surname holders might be distant descendants of the Irish Cairbre Gabra tribe, given the name's association with the tribe's territory.
However, it's noteworthy to mention that the distribution of a surname does not remain static over time, and it's concentration may vary over the years due to various socio-economic factors. Regardless, Cauley even now is still more commonly found in English-speaking countries due to historical migration patterns.
Variations of the surname Cauley
The surname Cauley is said to have originated from Ireland and is thought to be an Anglicized version of the Gaelic "Mac Amhalghaidh" or "Mac Amhlaoibh". The name has undergone many variations and misspellings over the years, resulting in a number of variant forms and spelling alternates. These include:
1. McCauley: This is one of the most common variants of the surname Cauley. It includes the prefix “Mc”, which simply means “son of”.
2. MacCauley: A similar variant to McCauley, it also includes the “Mac” prefix.
3. Cawley: This version omits the “u”, resulting in a slightly different spelling and pronunciation.
4. Cooley: In this variant, the “a” is replaced with an “o”.
5. Caulley: A less common variant, in this spelling the “e” is moved before the “y”.
6. Calley: This version of the name omits the “u” entirely.
7. McCawley: A rarer variant, this includes the "Mc" prefix and also alters the spelling of the latter part of the name.
It's worth noting that the spelling of surnames often varied considerably until the 19th century, so there may be many more versions of this name in historical records. The above list includes the most common variations.
Famous people with the name Cauley
- William H. Cauley: known as Will Cauley-Stein, a professional basketball player in the NBA who has played for teams like the Golden State Warriors and Dallas Mavericks.
- Tim Cauley: a noteworthy producer in the film industry, known for works such as "The Do-Deca-Pentathlon" and "Cyrus."
- Brandon Cauley: an American professional golfer who has participated in multiple PGA Tours.
- Jennifer Hale Cauley: known as Jennifer Hale, is a famous voice actress and singer recognized for her work in animated films, TV shows, and video games.
- James E. Cauley: an American political strategist who has worked on multiple election campaigns, including that of former U.S. President Barack Obama.
- Frank Cauley: a well-regarded professional basketball player in the mid-20th century.
- Brian Cauley: a Canadian film and TV actor with credits across various productions.
- Robert Cauley: an author known for his work, "Why Not Me: The Story of the Political Meltdown of 1994." Please note that some people may use alternative spellings, i.e., 'Coley,' 'Calley,' 'Cawley,' etc. which might yield additional results.