Surname Kilcawley - Meaning and Origin

Kilcawley: What does the surname Kilcawley mean?

The surname Kilcawley is an old Irish surname originating in County Galway. It derives from the ancient Gaelic Ó Cill Chathail, meaning “descendent of Cill Chathail”. Cill Chathail was a personal name meaning “warrior of the battle”, likely referring to a fierce warrior or leader of long ago. In some cases, the surname Kilcawley might also be derived from the Irish name for the town of Kilcormac, located in County Offaly.

Throughout Ireland, the Kilcawley surname is commonplace, with the family maintaining strong roots in the Kilcawley and Cunnane families of Co. Galway. The Kilcawley surname has spread across the world and even in the United States, particularly in Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania.

The Kilcawley surname carries with it a proud sense of history and heritage, honoring the legacy of a strong leader. The Kilcawleys are certainly proud of their legacy, and it's likely that those carrying the name today will carry it proudly into the future.

Kilcawley: Where does the name Kilcawley come from?

The last name Kilcawley is believed to have originated in Ireland, stemming from an Old Gaelic name of Mac Giolla Chaillie, which translates to “son of the follower of (St.)Caollaidhe”. The surname can be found in several countries today, but is far more common in the United Kingdom, Ireland and the United States.

In the United Kingdom, the most significant number of people with the last name Kilcawley are found in the county of Lancashire in England, especially in the town of Bolton. It is also found in large numbers on the Isle of Man in the Irish Sea.

In Ireland, the last name Kilcawley is seen in greater numbers in County Galway. This was also the birthplace of John N. Kilcawley, the first to bear this surname in Ireland. He emigrated to the United States in 1743, resulting in a wider diaspora of the Kilcawley name.

In the United States, the last name Kilcawley is far more common in the Northeast, though small numbers of people with this name are found all over the country. It is more prevalent in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York. The Kilcawley name can also be found in Canada, Australia, and a handful of other countries scattered around the world.

The Kilcawley name is not seen in extremely large numbers anywhere in the world, but it appears to be fairly evenly distributed among the countries where it is seen.

Variations of the surname Kilcawley

The surname Kilcawley is derived from the Irish Language and is written variously as:

- Mac Giolla Challaigh (Gaelic-Irish)

- Kilcawly (Anglicised)

- Gilcawley (Anglicised)

- MacIlcawley (Anglicised)

- MacIlcholai (Gaelic-Irish)

- MacIllchawley (Anglicised)

The Kilcawley surname is believed to originate from a Norman family from the mid 12th century. The family is believed to have been associated with the medieval barony of De Say within County Galway. The family's original name was de Say, but once they adopted the Irish lifestyle, the name changed to Mac Giolla Challaigh or Kilcawly, meaning "the son of the servant of St. Cailleach".

The surname Kilcawley can be found in several other spellings and variants, which all have the common origin and can be interpreted to mean the same thing. Other variants of the surname include MacIlcawley, McLoughlin, Gallahue, Molally, Kilcolly, McCalley, McClolly, and MacConnell. Clans associated with the surname include Sword, Pilot, Tully, Kelly, Cawley, Gogarty, Corcoran, and Gilday, among others.

In Ireland, the Kilcawley surname is still very common and is mostly found in the western, central, and northern parts of the country. It is also found in other parts of the world, especially in countries with distinct Irish diasporas like the United Kingdom, United States, and Canada.

Famous people with the name Kilcawley

• Terence Kilcawley: an Irish poet, playwright, and screenwriter. He wrote poems including ‘My Rose of Connemara’, ‘The Eye of the Seeker’, and ‘The Best of All Worlds’.
• Brian Kilcawley: an English actor in the theatre and on television. He has appeared in famous plays such as the Royal Shakespeare Company's 1999 production of 'The Merchant of Venice'.
• Sheila Kilcawley: an Irish actress and singer who is best known for her performances in 'Once a Catholic' and 'Twelfth Night'. She also performed in the Irish National Opera in Dublin.
• Robert Kilcawley: an American football player who played for the Cleveland Browns, the New York Jets, and the San Francisco 49ers.
• Padraig Kilcawley: an Irish sculptor who created the pieces ‘The Square of Truth’ and ‘The Kiss’.
• Isabella Kilcawley: a prominent British-American actress, best known for her role as Amelia Haddock in 'Harriet the Spy'.
• Annie Kilcawley: an Irish journalist and author who wrote the best-selling memoir, 'My Journey Through Labyrinths'.
• Caitlin Kilcawley: an Irish television producer/director whose recent work includes 'The Lenny Feature'.
• Daniel Kilcawley: a professional Australian footballer who last played for the Melbourne Soccer Club.
• Declan Kilcawley: an American actor who has appeared in films such as 'The Dark Knight Rises' and television series such as 'House M.D'.

Other surnames

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