Surname Comley - Meaning and Origin
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Comley: What does the surname Comley mean?
The surname Comley has an English origin and is said to be a variation of the name "Comer." It is derived from the Old English term 'cumb,' which means 'short, valley'. Therefore, the original bearer of the name Comley is likely to have been someone living in or near a small, short valley. It is regarded as a topographical surname, which were given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree. The surname Comley is also prevalent in Ireland where it took the form O Comhlaigh, a derivative of 'comhla,' referring to a companion or mate. So, it's also possible that Comley could mean 'descendant of Comhla.' Please note that surname interpretations have considerable variation and may represent different meanings in different cultures and languages.
Order DNA origin analysisComley: Where does the name Comley come from?
The surname Comley is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is derived from old English "cumb", meaning valley, and "leah", referring to a clearing. The surname thus initially referred to someone who lived in a sheltered hollow or a valley. Comley is common in England and started being used as a surname around the 11th century.
The surname is notably present in regions that were once Saxon strongholds. It notably spread across areas of Great Britain and then to English-speaking countries around the world as people migrated. Today, Comley is found in higher densities in the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, and Canada. Despite the migration and spread, it has remained a relatively rare surname, contributing to the misconception that it is common when it's actually somewhat unusual.
Variations of the surname Comley
The surname Comley has a variety of spellings and variations that have the same origin or are related in some way. These include Comly, Comlay, Combly, Combley, Coomley, Coomly, Comble, Cumley, and Cumly. Some variants also include a prefix or suffix like McComley or Comley-Smith which could be related to patrilineal or matrilineal lines. It's also possible that certain families chose to alter their name for other reasons, perhaps to blend in more easily in a new country or region, hence variations like Komeley or Comoyley.
Comley is suggested to have English origins possibly deriving from the Old English words 'cumb' meaning 'valley' and 'leah' meaning 'woodland clearing', hence variants could also be based on the phonetics or translation of these terms.
It's important to note that surnames can undergo many changes over time and across geographical locations so tracing the exact variations could be challenging. Variations might exist due to factors such as migration, translation into other languages, cultural assimilation, or even clerical errors in documentation.
Famous people with the name Comley
- Stuart Comley: An Australian hockey player who played for the national team and competed in the 1976 Summer Olympics.
- Lyle Comley: Noted American baseball player.
- Oliver Comley: A famous Irish singer.
- Betty Comley: Known for her work in producing Broadway shows alongside her husband Philip J. Smith. They're notably involved with "Les Miserables", "The Phantom of the Opera", and "Miss Saigon".
- Zoe Comley: A comic artist in the UK, notable for work in the graphic novel genre.
- Jim Comley: He was a professional English footballer who had a long stint with Reading.
- Brian Comley: An Australian cartoonist who gained notoriety with his successful magazine “Monster Times”. Please take note that while these individuals have received recognition in their respective fields, they might not all be widely known outside of their specific area of expertise.