Surname Callely - Meaning and Origin
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Callely: What does the surname Callely mean?
The last name Callely has its roots in the Irish Gaelic language and is thought to come from the phrase ‘Cailleach léith’, which translates to ‘narrow road’. The name is believed to have originally been used to describe a person who lived near a road that was particularly narrow or constricted.
This name gained much popularity in County Kerry and is associated with the O’Callellys, a clan whose lineage is traced back to the 11th century. The head of the clan was the leader of a group of warriors known as ‘cennfoglaigh’ and the Calleyly name is thought to derive from their position as leaders of this group.
The family took part in battles against the forces of the Earl of Desmond between 1582 and 1583, in which the O'Callellys were victorious. This cemented their reputation as a powerful family and the name Calleyly was passed down through the generations.
Today, the name Calleyly is found mainly in south-western Ireland, and it is used to denote someone who is associated with the O'Callelly family. This ancient Irish name is still respected and recognized in the present day.
Order DNA origin analysisCallely: Where does the name Callely come from?
The last name Callely is most commonly found today in Ireland. In fact, it is one of the twenty-most common last names in the country. The rarely spelled Callally is another version of the same name. The name is derived from the Gaelic ‘O Caolaidhe’, which roughly translates as ‘from the narrow place’. It is most likely derived from the family’s ancestral homeland in Co. Cavan, where they were earls of Fauconberg.
The Callely family lived in the area of the Dublin/Kildare border for centuries. To this day, the name is most commonly found in these two counties, and their strongest presence is around the farming communities of Maynooth and Celbridge. Beyond Dublin and Kildare, the name Callely is also found in Galway, Cork, Antrim and Armagh.
In addition to being common in Ireland, the last name Callely is also found in other parts of the world such as in the United States and Canada, where it was taken by Irish immigrants in the 1800s and 1900s. Today, it is much more rare, and is most commonly found in large cities where there are larger Irish diasporic populations.
The last name Callely continues to be most strongly associated with the Emerald Isle, however, and its presence on the Irish landscape is strong and resolute.
Variations of the surname Callely
The surname Callely has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Callely is a surname native to Ireland, and is derived from the Gaelic surname “O Cathallaigh”. Commonly, the name is spelt as Callaly, Callalye, or Callaly.
Other variants of this surname are Cailleach, Callaly, Callalye, Calely, Callally, Cally, Calley, and Calllely. Another variant of the same origin is Cullen, which was derived from 'O'Cathallaigh' utilising the anglicisation of the Gaelic term 'O'. There may be some confusion with the name. Cole, which can also appear as Coll, or Caul, which all have different origins.
Alternate spellings for the surname Callely include Callaly, Callalye, Calely, Callally, Cally, Calley, and Cawley. Similarly, alternate spellings of Cullen include Cullin, Cullan, Culan, Cuman, and Cumanne.
In addition, the surname Cahill (or Cahil and Keeley) is also derived from the original form. This includes variants such as Cahell, Cahee, Kealy, Kealley, and Keol.
Finally, similar surnames of the same origin include Colley, McCalla, Halligan, and Kealy.
Famous people with the name Callely
- Ivor Callely: Irish former politician and lobbyist. He was a long-time member of Fianna Fáil and a former Government Minister.
- Carlos Callely: singer-songwriter, actor, and producer from Cuba, best known for his contributions to Cuban music and salsa.
- Jorge Callely: Puerto Rican composer, arranger, producer, and radio host.
- Marta Callely: Cuban-American actress and television presenter.
- Abby Callely: Irish actress and fashion blogger.
- Lucia Callely: Irish model and fashion blogger.
- Philip Callely: Irish retired Fine Gael politician and public representative. He was a Senator for the Administrative Panel from 1983 to 2011.
- Maurice Callely: Irish retired Fine Gael politician and MEP.
- Pablo Callely: Cuban-born American music video director and music producer.
- Will Callely: American comedian and writer.