Surname Comly - Meaning and Origin

Comly: What does the surname Comly mean?

The last name Comly is believed to have originated in the United Kingdom. It is a relatively rare surname and was predominantly found in England during the 19th century. The name is believed to be a variant of the surname Conley, which is of Irish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic surname 'O Connmhaoil' from the families of the Connmhaoil and Conmaol clans. It is possible that the Comly variation was used to differentiate between different clans or families.

The Conley/Comly surname is linked to a number of counties in Ireland, including Offaly, Tipperary and Galway, and is also found in small numbers in the north of England. The surname is believed to have come from a variety of sources, including Norman settlers, and it is thought that the last name may have also been adopted from other places and adapted over the years.

There are a few examples of the surname being used by figures of note in history. A Captain William Comly is recorded as being an officer in the British Navy during the mid-18th century; he was the grandson of James, 3rd Earl of Dunmore and Commander of the Central Squadron. Another notable bearer of the surname was Mark Comley, from Clonmells, Ireland. He was a soldier who joined the British Army in 1759 and was awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in cameo form at the conclusion of his service.

In summary, the last name Comly is believed to have originated in the United Kingdom and is of Irish origin, with variants of the surname Conley. It is thought to have been adopted from other places and adapted over the years with examples being found across Ireland and north England. A few people of note have also been recorded as having the surname, including a British Navy captain and a soldier who served in the British Army.

Comly: Where does the name Comly come from?

The last name Comly is most common today in the United States, particularly in Pennsylvania and Ohio. The majority of people with the Comly surname live in the two midwestern states, with a smaller number living in a few of the surrounding states.

The Comly name appears to have originated in the British Isles in the 12th century, in the area known as the Welsh Marches. According to one source, the name "derives from the Old English name for a valley," suggesting that the ancestors of the first Comly family were originally farmers or those who worked the land.

The Comly name first appears in America in 1731 when a James Comly arrived in Pennsylvania, making him the first known Comly ancestor in the United States. Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, the Comly name spread through Pennsylvania and Ohio, with some people also living in New York, New Jersey, and Indiana. Today, it is one of the more common surnames in Pennsylvania and among some of the Pennsylvania Dutch who are descendants of the original Comly immigrant.

The most famous person bearing this name is undoubtedly noted American explorer Joshua Comly, who set out in 1790 on an exploration of the Ohio River with captained by Zebulon Pike.

Variations of the surname Comly

Comly is a surname of Anglo-Saxon origin that can be found in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland. It is derived from "cumly", which is derived from the Old English word "cumol" meaning "gentle". While the modern spelling of the surname is Comly, there are a few variations and spellings.

Common alternative spellings of Comly include Cumly, Comely, Cumley, Cummely, Comeely and Cunningham. Other variations, such as Cumlee and Cumlee-Comly, are less common.

Surnames of similar origin that are related to Comly include Cummings, Cunnison, Conley, Cunnigham, Cambridge, Conrad, Comstock, Coulson, and Conner. All of these surnames are derived from the Old English word "cumol", which means gentle.

Comly is also a popular given name, derived from the surname. This name is particularly popular in the United States and Canada, although it is used in other countries as well. Its derivatives include Cubly, Cumly, Comley, Cumbly, Cummely and Cumbel.

In conclusion, the Comly surname is of Anglo-Saxon origin and has its roots in the Old English word "cumol", meaning gentle. The modern spelling of the surname is Comly, with alternative spellings and variants including Cumly, Comely, Cumley, Cunningham, Cumlee, Cumlee-Comly, Cummings, Cunnison, Conrad, Comstock, Coulson, Conner, Cubly, Comley, Cumbly, Cummely and Cumbel. It is also a popular given name, in both the United States and Canada, as well as other countries.

Famous people with the name Comly

• Marian Comly Bond (Chester County Commissioner: Pennsylvania)
• Dottie Brown Comly (American artist)
• Henry Howard Comly (American politician)
• Elmer Comly (American politician)
• Samuel E. Comly (American politician)
• John G. Comly (First Bishop of the Christian Episcopal Church)
• Edwin Comly (American politician)
• Peggy Comly (Kansas State Representative)
• John Albertson Comly (American lawyer)
• Sybil Comly (American socialite)
• Robert H. Comly (American politician)

Other surnames

ComleyComly.