Surname McColley - Meaning and Origin
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McColley: What does the surname McColley mean?
The last name McColley is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic “Mac Conghaile”, meaning “son of Connal”. Connal was an old personal name meaning “brave hound”, and was derived from a combination of the words “Con”, meaning “hound”, and “gal”, meaning “valour” or “valiance”.
The McColley name can be found in records dating back to as early as the 12th century in northwest Scotland. It became popular in the 1500s and 1600s when it was associated with several prominent families of the Clan MacNaughton. It is still a very popular name in Scotland today, with thousands of McColley families living in the country.
The McColley family is known for its strong work ethic and dedication to family. They are known to be driven, hardworking, and loyal, and they have a strong sense of community and kinship. McColley families are often very involved in their local churches and are committed to giving back to their local communities.
The McColley family history epitomizes a proud and hardworking heritage. Their enduring impact on Scotland and its people will surely be felt for years to come.
Order DNA origin analysisMcColley: Where does the name McColley come from?
The last name McColley is most commonly seen today in the United States. It is especially concentrated in the midwestern states of Iowa, Nebraska, and Indiana. In Iowa, McColley is one of the top 500 surnames, with over 1,400 individuals openly claiming the name.
McColley is also seen in several other countries, primarily in the British Isles. A search of public records shows hundreds of people bearing the name in England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. It is likely that the family originated in Scotland, as records show people with the surname living in the Edinburgh area as far back as the 16th century.
The McColley name is also known in Canada, appearing on several public records. However, the most common location of the name in Canada appears to be in the Province of Ontario. This correlates with the family’s history, as during the 19th century many Scottish families immigrated to Ontario, looking for a new life in Canada’s sweeping and inviting land of opportunity.
Overall, the last name McColley is most commonly seen in the United States, which remains the home to the largest population of McColleys in the world. With a history stretching back centuries, the McColley name is still very much alive today in the US and abroad.
Variations of the surname McColley
The surname McColley can have various variants, spellings, and surnames derived from the same origin. Some of these variants include McCauley, McCowley, McCawley, McCaully, MacGawley, and MacGawly.
McColley is derived from the Gaelic name for ‘son of the hound’, and is found predominately in Scotland. It is thought to originate as a nickname referring to the strength, loyalty, and tenacity of hounds.
McAuley is another variant, derived from an old Gaelic word ‘MacAmhalghaidh’, which, when translated, means ‘son of Amhalghaidh’ or ‘son of aristocracy’.
McCowley is derived from the Irish surname Mac an Phoil, meaning ‘son of the wolf’. The Irish version of Mac an Phoil is cognate with McColley, as both names stem from 'Mac' meaning 'son', and 'amhalghaidh' meaning 'of hound', further confirming the hound reference.
McCawley is an anglicized version of the surname; it is thought to have originated in the Scottish town of West Kilbride, and is today considered as a variant of McColley.
MacGawley and MacGawly are both anglicized spellings of the Scottish and Irish surnames. These two variants are thought to have been created by adding an 'G' to the 'McColley' surname, particularly in Ireland.
In addition to the variants, there are also several spellings of the surname McColley. These include MacColley, MacCollie, and McColley.
The surnames McColley, McAuley, McCowley, McCawley, MacGawley and MacGawly are all variations on the same surname which has its roots in British and Irish culture. Despite the different spellings and variants, all of these surnames derive from the same origin and are today found throughout the British Isles.
Famous people with the name McColley
- Ryan McColley: television news anchor who has worked for numerous news networks including CNN and MSNBC
- Mary McColley: Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and novelist
- Ruthie McColley: professional singer and songwriter
- Peggy McColley: film and stage actress
- George McColley: tool inventor and entrepreneur
- Michelle McColley: former NBA basketball player
- Bob McColley: professional golfer, winner of two PGA Championships
- Dr. Mark McColley: family physician, best known for writing on the subject of health insurance
- Stephen McColley: British diplomat and ambassador to the United States
- Vance McColley: leading authority and expert in statistical methods and operations research
- Corinne McColley: renowned inspiration speaker and author
- James McColley: medical researcher and publisher of The Journal of Medicine
- Joseph McColley: renowned surgeon and author
- Anna McColley: founder and CEO of a popular children’s wear brand
- Jake McColley: Grammy-winning music producer.