Surname Cauly - Meaning and Origin
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Cauly: What does the surname Cauly mean?
The last name Cauly is thought to be of French or Irish origin. It can be an anglicized form of the Gaelic surname McCauley, which is derived from the personal name Cathal. This name is thought to mean “strong in battle”, derived from the Old/Middle Irish words "cath," meaning “battle” and "al," meaning “might”.
In France, Cauly is thought to be derived from a French diminutive word for “little Charles”. This points to an old French personal name, Charles, derived from the German name Karl, meaning “manly” or “free man”.
The Cauly name first appeared in ancient England. One possible source of Cauly dates back to a family named Arely, which could have been anglicized to Cauly over the course of many years. Arely is believed to mean “hilly” or “refuge” and was common in Gloucestershire, England in the Middle Ages.
Cauly is most common among families that have originated from France and Cornwall, England. Spelling variants of Cauly include McCauley, Cawley and Cole. For those wishing to explore their Cauly heritage, records from settlers arriving in the United States from foreign shores may provide clues to one’s ancestral lineage.
Order DNA origin analysisCauly: Where does the name Cauly come from?
The last name Cauly is most commonly found today in France. The name appears to originate from the occitan region in Southern France, where it still exists today. According to records, it first appeared in the 1300s in Southern France with the first recorded instance being in 1305 in Aix-en-Provence.
The name is also quite common in other parts of Europe such as Spain, Italy, and the UK. It is likely that it first spread to these countries during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, through merchant traders and military personnel.
In North America, the last name Cauly is still prevalent in Canada and in the United States. The United States is especially interesting for its concentration of Cauly families. Individuals with the name are found mainly in Massachusetts, Illinois, California, and Pennsylvania. It is thought that the name likely entered North America during the early-mid 20th century, as this coincides with waves of immigration from Europe.
The last name Cauly is also found in the French Caribbean Islands, like Martinique and Guadeloupe, later than its appearance in North America. This is likely due to the plantation system, in which individuals with the surname Cauly were likely brought as tradesmen and laborers.
In conclusion, the Cauly surname is still prevalent today. It has a particularly strong presence in France and North America, with pockets in the Caribbean. Its roots likely date back to the 1300s in Southern France, with other occurrences appearing in Europe and later, North America.
Variations of the surname Cauly
The surname Cauly is derived from the Irish Gaelic Mac Awley, which is an anglicized form of the surname Mac Amhalghaidh. Spellings and variations of this surname may include Cauley, Caulley, Cawley, MacAwley, MacAmhalghaidh, MacAwghaidh, and MacGawley. The numerous variants of this surname, often localised in culture and geography, have the same Gaelic Irish origin and suggest that the original family inhabited the northern region of Ireland near the River Bann.
The surname Cauly is also found in England where it was introduced in the 12th century by the Norman invaders. This family may have originated from a Norman family named Waleis or Valois. Variations of this surname found in England include Cayley, Cowley, Cauley, Cowly, and Cawly.
The variants of the surname Cauly may also be found in Scotland and Wales where it is alternatively spelled as Caullie and Cawley. These variants were popularised by immigrants who had settled in these countries.
Other regions where the surname may be found include France, Germany, and Spain. These countries have their own distinct variations of the name such as Gallo, Coli, and Kaula respectively.
To summarise, the surname Cauly is of Irish origin and has numerous variations which reflect its journey across different geographical regions. In addition to the primary spelling of Cauly, it may also be spelt as Cawley, Cauley, MacAwley, MacAmhalghaidh, MacAwghaidh, MacGawley, Cayley, Cowley, Cowly, Caullie ,Gallo, Coli, and Kaula.
Famous people with the name Cauly
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