Surname Gilhooly - Meaning and Origin
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Gilhooly: What does the surname Gilhooly mean?
The last name Gilhooly is of Irish origin and usually traced back to County Cork in the 1600s. It is known as an Anglicized spelling of the Irish Gaelic surname “Ó Giolla Chaluime”, which translates to “servant of (St.) Calum”. The old Gaelic clan of O’Gilhooly is believed to have been farmers and herdsmen, originating in the area near the River Bandon in County Cork.
The Gilhooly surname is generally thought to be derived from the Irish phrase “giolla chaluim”, which can be translated as “Giolla of Caluim”, with “Giolla” meaning “servant” and ”Caluim” being a personal name derived from Columba, the sixth-century Irish monk. This is evidence that the first Gilhooly family was likely associated with the ancient Irish Christian monasteries, and the name represents their devotion to the church.
Though the surname is primarily found in Ireland, it is also known to be in existence in the United Kingdom and the United States of America. Today, the Gilhooly family can be found all around the world, and it is a name steeped in tradition and legacy.
Order DNA origin analysisGilhooly: Where does the name Gilhooly come from?
The last name Gilhooly is most commonly found in North America, particularly in areas with historically large Irish populations, such as Canada and the United States. According to the website Forebears, it is the 1,047th most popular last name in the world, with approximately 26,030 people bearing the name.
In the United States, the largest concentrations of Gilhoolys are found in New York, California, and Massachusetts. Irish immigrants began arriving in the US during the Great Famine of the 1840s, and many ended up settling in large cities along the East Coast, including New York, Boston, and Philadelphia; hence, these areas have seen particularly high concentrations of Gilhoolys over the generations. It is also found in states that had sizable Irish immigrant populations in the 19th century, such as Wisconsin, Illinois, and Michigan.
In Canada, the last name is found across the country, with an especially high frequency in Ontario, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland. As in the United States, the highest densities of Gilhoolys are concentrated in the areas where the original wave of Irish immigrants settled, such as Toronto and Montreal.
Gilhooly is also relatively common in England. Its popularity there is likely due to the large numbers of Irish immigrants who relocated to England in the present-day 19th century. In England, the highest number of people bearing this last name can be found in the Greater London and Lancashire areas.
Overall, the last name Gilhooly is associated with countries and regions where Irish immigrants once settled, such as the US, Canada, and England.
Variations of the surname Gilhooly
The variants, spellings and surnames of Gilhooly have many variants, spellings and even surnames of the same origin. These include: Gilhooly, Gilhoulie, Gilooley, Gilhoolie, Gilwhelley, Gilholley, Gilhoolie, Gilhooley, Gilhooly and Gillhooly.
The surname Gilhooly is of Irish origin and is an anglicized form of the Gaelic name “MacGiolla Uidhilig” (son of the devotee of St. Uidhilig). This was one of the most prominent of the septs of the O'Mulvey tribe who were the ruling family of the barony of Boyle in county Roscommon in the late 16th and early 17th centuries.
Variations in the spelling of the surname Gilhooly can be attributed to a number of factors, including variations of the Gaelic language being spoken in different parts of the country, an individual's ability to spell, and an intentional change of the spelling of a name to hide its Irish origins.
Other surnames related toGilhooly include: Gilfillan, Gillespie, Gilpatrick, Gillpatrick, Gilpatrick Monogal and Gilpatrickson. These are the Gaelic forms of the same name, likely deriving from a different geographical area.
In Scotland, Gilhooly is spelled “Gillooly” and is likely a variation of the surname Gilhooly or Gilooly. This version of the name is commonly found among Irish immigrants who settled in Scotland during the Irish Potato Famine.
No matter the spelling of the name, Gilhooly is a testament to the Irish diaspora and a reminder of the many different cultures, languages and traditions that have mixed to create the Irish identity.
Famous people with the name Gilhooly
- Peter Gilhooly: Irish actor known for roles in Love/Hate, The Tudors, Single-Handed, and more.
- Michelle Gilhooly: Irish actress known for roles in films such as The Regular, Dance to the Starlight, and Dreamwalker.
- John Gilhooly: British conductor and director, head of the Wigmore Hall in London.
- Matt Gilhooly: American actor known for roles in films such as The Princess Diaries 2, Be Somebody, and Control.
- The Gilhooly Brothers: Irish musical band made up of the five Gilhooly brothers.
- Mark Gilhooly: Irish musician, composer, and philanthropist.
- Phil Gilhooly: American football player, former punter for the University of Texas Longhorns.
- Sean Gilhooly: Irish musician, frontman for the rock band The Answer.
- Ed Gilhooly: British musician, frontman of popular Irish folk-rock band Big Country.
- Brendan Gilhooly: former bassist for Irish band The Blizzards.
- Charles Gilhooly: former member of the Irish Army and political activist.
- Brian Gilhooly: former President of the American Montage Historical Society.
- Colin Gilhooly: British comedian, presenter and actor known for his comedic YouTube videos.
- Joseph Gilhooly: American visual effects artist known for his work on films such as Storm of the Century, The Day After Tomorrow, and The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.
- Maria Gilhooly: American writer and author of books such as Before the Storm and Voices of the River.