Surname MacCallely - Meaning and Origin
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MacCallely: What does the surname MacCallely mean?
The last name MacCallely is thought to be an anglicized form of the Gaelic name Mac Ailí, derived from the personal name Ailí, which is thought to be of Old Norse origin. There are two main branches of the MacCallely family, one in Scotland and one in Ireland.
In Scotland, the MacCallelys can be traced back to the 12th century. They were of Celtic origin and were found in the region known as Argyll. The primary MacCallely forefather was Gilchrist, ancestor of the MacCallely Chiefs of the Isle of Lismore. Interestingly, the MacCallelys were known for their seafaring skills as well as their loyalty to Scotland and the Royal House of Stewart.
In Ireland, the MacCallely family is found mostly in County Galway and County Mayo. The Irish version of the name is believed to have been Mac Ailí or Mac Ailín, meaning "[son] of Alasdair". This then became Anglicized as MacCallely.
The MacCallelys were considered to be noble and, due to their seafaring skills, were described as "lordly mariners". Today, the MacCallely name is still found in both Scotland and Ireland. There is also a large MacCallely presence in the USA, Australia and Canada, with many emigrating in the 19th century.
Order DNA origin analysisMacCallely: Where does the name MacCallely come from?
The last name MacCallely is most commonly associated with Scottish and Irish origins. In Scotland, it is Comgrison of the MacDonald Clan, and in Northern Ireland, it most commonly appears within County Donegal.
Today the surname is dispersed around the world. In the United Kingdom, MacCallely can be found in multiple locations in England and Scotland, but the highest concentration of the surname is recorded in Scotland, with around 7,000 people sharing the surname.
In Europe, MacCallely is not as common, but there are still some found in the Netherlands, France, Spain, and Germany, and more spread throughout the continent.
In the United States and Canada, the surname is especially prevalent in the Midwest, particularly Illinois, Missouri, and Wisconsin, and there are sizable populations of MacCallelys in California, Texas, New York, and Washington. Across the U.S. and Canada, it's estimated that nearly 90,000 individuals bear the MacCallely surname.
The surname is also found in other parts of the world, such as Australia, New Zealand, India, and South Africa. In all, the surname MacCallely is still quite a common one in many countries around the globe.
Variations of the surname MacCallely
The surname MacCallely is a common surname across the world. There are several variant spellings and surnames of the same origin, all of which come from the Gaelic form of the name - Mac Caille (son of Caille). This form has been used interchangeably with the Anglicized version, MacCallely. The most common spellings of the surname MacCallely include MacCallall, MacAllie, MacCalley, MacAlley, McCallely and MacCoulley.
The surname is also associated with various clan names including Clan Ailley, Macelley, MacAllley, MacCauley, and MacAulay. In some parts of Scotland, it is found in the form of the surnames McCall and Hailley. All of the variants of the name are derived from the Mac Caille clan originally based in County Tyrone, in northern part of Ireland.
In some parts of Ireland, other spellings have cropped up such as MacColley, MacCalleigh, and MacGetchell. In England, the surname is found mostly in Scotland and is also found in some parts of the West Midlands and the South East regions.
The variants of the surname MacCallely are quite varied and numerous, but all likely come from the same origin of the initial Gaelic form of the name. No matter the variation, all of the families who bear the name are likely to have similar Irish heritage.
Famous people with the name MacCallely
- Craig MacCallely: Former Member of the Texas House of Representatives
- Shawn MacCallley: Professional Mixed Martial Artist
- Morven MacCallley: Former Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
- Mary MacCallley: Actress and Singer
- Sarah MacCallley: Canadian Filmmaker
- Yeardley MacCallley: Executive Director of Foodfest International
- Dan MacCallley: Television Writer and Producer
- Robert MacCallley: Actor
- Shane MacCallley: Professional Basketball Player
- Tom MacCallley: Technology Entrepreneur and CEO of Facebook