Surname McCarley - Meaning and Origin

McCarley: What does the surname McCarley mean?

The surname McCarley is a Northern Irish surname of Ulster-Scots origin. It is derived from the Gaelic Mac Gharlaigh, which translates literally to "son of Gharlaigh". Gharlaigh was the personal name of an ancestor, likely taken from the Old Norse Gormr, meaning "wolf"; literally "son of the wolf".

The McCarleys are a well known and numerous family in Northern Ireland, having a prominent presence in the northeast region. The earliest known records of the McCarleys date back to the 12th century in Culmore, County Londonderry. Due to its proximity to Scotland and the ongoing conflict with England throughout the middle ages, the McCarley family were prominent participants in the waves of Scottish settlements into northern Ireland.

In modern times, McCarleys have continued to play a prominent role in Irish history, with members active in politics, the arts, and business. They have contributed to a wide array of charitable causes and have been leading voices on the topics of justice and social reform.

The McCarleys have a storied and proud history. Their legacy as a prominent family of Northern Ireland resonates throughout the generations and will continue to do so for many more.

McCarley: Where does the name McCarley come from?

The last name McCarley is most commonly found in the United States and Canada today. In the United States, it is most common in the southeast and midwest. The states with the highest concentration are Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Missouri. It is also common in the region of Appalachia in Kentucky and West Virginia.

In Canada, the last name McCarley is concentrated in the province of Ontario and is most prominent in the Peel Region and the city of Toronto. These areas account for the majority of individuals bearing the last name McCarley in the country.

The origin of the McCarley name is believed to be Scottish-Irish, and it is derived from the Gaelic "MacFhearlaigh." The name is believed to have first been brought to North America by immigrants from Scotland and Ireland in the 18th and 19th centuries.

The common surname today is thought to be derived from multiple different sources, the most common being those first brought to the continent by Scottish and Irish immigrants. Today, the surname is most often associated with the rural south, Appalachia, and Canada.

Variations of the surname McCarley

The surname McCarley belongs to a variant of Irish surnames that begin with the prefix of Mac or Mc. The surname is derived from the Gaelic words Mac and Carthal, meaning "the son of Carthal," and is found in multiple spellings and variants from the UK and Ireland. Commonly, the surname is spelled as MacCarley, McCarley, MacCarly, McCarly, McClarley, and MKayrley.

The Scottish variant of the surname is Carley, and other surnames of similar origin include MacCarles, McCarles, MacCharles, McCarles, McCalester, McCasler, McCartland, MacCartney, McCartny, and MacCartney. The surnames McCarland, MacCarlane, and McCullogh are Scottish variants, and MacCarley, McCarly, McCartly, and Makarley are from Northern Ireland.

In America, the surname McCarley is likely to have entered the population during the early 19th century, and is generally accepted that there is one main line that branched off into many different variants. Related surnames in Britain and Ireland can largely trace their roots to Antrim and Belfast, respectively, and have also been found deeply engrained in the south of Scotland and densely populated regions of the United States.

Famous people with the name McCarley

• Rachel McCarley: American singer-songwriter from Nashville, Tennessee.
• peyton mccarley: CrossFit Games athlete
• Tom McCarley: American football referee in the National Football League
• Patrick McCarley: Professional footballer who has played for clubs in Scotland, Bulgaria, and Finland
• Tony McCarley: Former professional ice hockey forward who played in the International Hockey League
• Don McCarley: American basketball coach, college athletics administrator, and professional basketball player
• Kay McCarley: American author, screenwriter, and playwright
• Daniel McCarley: Actor, known for roles in films like The Purge, A Walk Among the Tombstones, and Identity Thief
• Charles McCarley: United States Army soldier and a recipient of the Medal of Honor
• Jack McCarley: Biochemist who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1994

Other surnames

McCarle