Surname Cawley - Meaning and Origin
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Cawley: What does the surname Cawley mean?
The last name Cawley originates from the Irish Gaelic surname Mac Amhalghaidh, which translates to "son of Amhalghaidh." The Mac Amhalghaidh surname is derived from the Gaelic elements "amhailg," meaning "valorous," and "cath," meaning "war."
Cawleys today are still connected to their Irish heritage. Many, if not all, families in Ireland who bear this last name can trace their ancestry to a specific County in Ireland. In Britain, the meaning of the Cawley name is associated with several other names, such as Collie, Caldwell, MacCalley, and MacAulay.
The Cawley family is believed to have been part of the powerful O'Rourke clan, which was a clan in Mayo. Many branches of the Cawley family claim to be descended from Niall of the Nine Hostages, an ancient Irish king of the Hiberno-Scottish Connachta dynasty.
In modern times, the name Cawley has spread throughout the world, especially in the United States and Canada. Cawleys are known for their strong work ethic, family values, and their devotion to their Irish heritage. Cawleys are often seen as being highly ambitious and compassionate.
Whether it be in politics, business, or the arts, the Cawley name is often associated with a high level of success. Regardless of the current generations' varying interests and pursuits, the name Cawley is still proudly associated with courage, loyalty, and a strong sense of identity.
Order DNA origin analysisCawley: Where does the name Cawley come from?
The last name Cawley is most commonly found in Ireland and the United Kingdom today. It is likely derived from the Old Norse personal name Kol, meaning "black," and leah meaning a "wood or clearing." Despite its origin, over time Cawley has become an English name. In Ireland, Cawley is found mainly in County Clare and North County Dublin. In the United Kingdom, it is mainly concentrated in counties Cornwall and Lancashire. Within Both Ireland and the UK, Cawley is an uncommon name, making up approximately 8-10k of the total population in both countries.
People with the last name Cawley have also spread out to other nations and can be found in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States. In Australia, the name is most prevalent in Queensland and Victoria, and in the US it is mainly found in Michigan, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
While the last name Cawley is less common than some other names, it has an ancient and fascinating origin. The meaning behind the name is powerful and can bring a sense of uniqueness to whoever holds the name.
Variations of the surname Cawley
The surname Cawley can have many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most common spelling of the surname is Cawley. Other variants include Cawly, Caulley, Cauley, Causey, and Cauely. Other spellings include Cahill, Cally, Caly, Calli, and Caoile.
Surnames that are of the same origin as Cawley include Cauly, Costello, Call, Cole, Colley, Cowley, and Couch. Cauly is derived from the Irish Gaelic name Mac Amhlaoibh, which translates to meaning "son of Amhlaoibh". Costello is derived from the Gaelic Irish name O'Coisdealbhach, which translates to "helmeted warrior". Call is derived from the old Irish name Mac Cathail, which translates to "son of Cathal".
Cole is derived from the Old English name Cola, which means "dark or coal-black". Colley is derived from the Gaelic Irish name Mac Amhlaoibh, which translates to meaning "son of Amhlaoibh". Cowley is derived from the Old English name Cola, which means "dark or coal-black". Couch is derived from the Old English name Coeh, which translates to "dark-haired person".
The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Cawley provide insight into the origins of particular families. It can provide information on a family's place of origin, from which a family can trace its history. It should be noted that the variations in spelling and variants of the surname Cawley are not exclusive, and there are many more variations of the same name that have not been discussed in this explanation.
Famous people with the name Cawley
- Dan Cawley, Irish comedian
- John Cawley, American economist
- Seamus Cawley, Irish Gaelic footballer
- Charlie Cawley, executive chairman of MBNA
- Bob Cawley, Australian rules football player
- Father Michael Cawley, Irish priest
- Joseph L. Cawley, Los Angeles historian and curator
- Brian Cawley, Irish politician
- Emily Cawley, Australian politician
- Alison Cawley, Botswanan beauty pageant titleholder