Cawley

''Cawley'' is a surname in the English language. There are several different origins of the surname. In some cases the surnames are derived from any of numerous place names in England. In other cases the surnames are derived from any of several Gaelic language surnames.

Etymology

In some cases the surname is a variant of the surname '' Cowley'',. and is thus derived from any of a number of different place names in England. Such places are located in Buckinghamshire, Devon, Oxfordshire, Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Lancashire, Gloucestershire, and Middlesex. These place names have numerous different etymologies.. For example, one place name is derived from the Old English elements ''cu'' and ''leah'', meaning "cow" and "woodland clearing"; another two are from the Old English ''col'', meaning "coal" (in reference to charcoal); other places may be in part derived from the Old English personal names ''Cufa'' and ''Cofa''. which cited: for the surname "Cowley".

In some cases, the surnames are derived from the Scottish Gaelic '' MacAmhalghaidh'', and Irish ''Mac Amhalghaidh''. These Gaelic surnames translates into English as "son of '' Amhalghaidh''", which is a transcription of: . or "son of ''Amhalghadh''". The Gaelic surnames originated as a patronyms, however they are no longer used to refer to the actual names of the bearers' fathers. The personal name ''Amhalghaidh'' (also spelt ''Amhalghadh'') is an old Gaelic name, and its etymological origin and meaning are uncertain.

In other cases, the surnames are derived from the Scottish Gaelic '' MacAmhlaidh'', or the Irish ''Mac Amhlaoibh''., which cited: , for the surnames "Cawley" and "McCauley". These surnames translate into English as "son of ''Amhladh''" or "son of ''Amhlaidh''"; and "son of '' Amhlaoibh''". The Gaelic surnames originated as a patronyms, however they are no longer used to refer to the actual names of the bearers' fathers. The names ''Amhladh'', ''Amhlaidh'', and ''Amhlaoibh'' are Gaelic derivatives of the Old Norse personal names ''Áleifr'' and ''Óláfr''...

Distribution

United States

In 1990, the United States Census Bureau undertook a study of the 1990 United States Census, and released a sample of data concerning the most common names. According to this sample of 6.3 million people (who had 88,799 unique last names), ''Cawley'' ranked 7,289th most common last name, and was borne by 0.002 percent of the population sample. Within the 2000 United States Census, ''Cawley'' was the 5,900th most common last name, with 5,370 occurrences.. The table below shows data concerning racial-ethnic aspects of the surname in the 2000 United States Census..

List of persons with the surname

*Alan Cawley (born 1982), Irish professional football player
*Charles Cawley (contemporary), founding member of the bank MBN
* Gerry Cawley (contemporary), Cornish wrestling champion
*Harold Thomas Cawley (1878–1915), British politician and soldier, son of 1st Baron Cawley; killed in World War I
*James Cawley (born 1967), American actor
*Jim Cawley, lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania
*John Cawley, see John Calley (died 1725), British co-inventor of the Newcomen steam engine.
*Katie Schumacher-Cawley (born 1980), American volleyball/basketball player and coach
*Oswald Cawley (1882–1918), British politician and soldier, son of 1st Baron Cawley; killed in World War I
* Peter Cawley (born 1965), English professional football player
*Rex Cawley (born 1940), American Olympic hurdler
*Richard Cawley (born 1932), British Olympic long jumper
*Tucker Cawley (contemporary), American television comedy writer and producer
*William Cawley (1602–1667), British politician; MP for Midhurst 1640
*Will Cawley, English boxer

See also

Earl Cowley is a peerage of the United Kingdom

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cawley
English-language surnames
Patronymic surnames
English toponymic surnames