Surname Gooley - Meaning and Origin

Gooley: What does the surname Gooley mean?

The last name Gooley is an anglicized version of the Irish surname Ó Guaire, which itself is derived from the personal name Guaire. Guaire was a king of Connacht in the 11th century who was renowned for his hospitality, generosity and bravery and so his personal name became widely used by clans in the region bearing the Gaelic prefix "O" meaning "grandson or descendant of".

The name itself is derived from the Old Gaelic word "guaire" which means "noble" or "hospitable" - referencing qualities attributed to King Guaire himself. By extension, those who bore the surname were likely to be proud of their ancestral link to his renowned character and perhaps strive to emulate it themselves.

Gooley is still a fairly common name in Ireland, especially in the area of Ulster. The surname is also found in issues of Irish genealogies where it is referred to as being of ancient pedigree.

Today, those who bear the surname of Gooley are likely to be proud of their Irish ancestry and its associated traditions and culture. The name itself is often used as an honorific to demonstrate the bearer's commitment to the more noble and hospitable traits of character which have come to be associated with it.

Gooley: Where does the name Gooley come from?

The last name Gooley is common today in many areas of the world, predominantly in countries with a large Irish diaspora, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It is also present in some areas of western and northern Europe, including England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.

The name Gooley is an anglicized form of the Irish name "O'Gualaigh", a surname derived from the Irish word "gualach", which means "the foreign one". As such, the family can trace their origins to a time when the Irish were still a tribal people with a mainly rural lifestyle.

In the United States, the last name Gooley was one of the top-50 surnames reported in the 1990 US Census. It is mainly concentrated in the Northeastern and Midwestern states of the US, but can be found in all 50 states. Additionally, the Australian Census of 2016 recorded 1,508 people with the Gooley surname, with the largest populations in New South Wales (935) and Victoria (272).

Overall, the last name Gooley is a common name today and can be found in many countries around the world. It is especially popular in areas of the world with a large Irish diaspora, such as the US, Australia, and Canada.

Variations of the surname Gooley

The surname Gooley is of English origin and derives from the Middle English word gole, meaning a round or globular object. Variants and spellings of the surname Gooley include Gool, Goolie, Gooler, Gooley, Gooll, Goolley, Gol, Golle, Goll, Goole, Goolly, Goul and Goulle.

The etymological origin of the surname has also been linked to the Old English word “gula” which means ‘painted pot’ or ‘jug’. Additionally, some records suggest the name could be the name of an individual, originally derived from either the French “Gaule” or the Dutch “Goelen”, both of which mean “bold”.

Variations of Gooley can also be found in other cultures. In France, variations include Goulet, Gouleau, Goullet, Gula, Goy, Golla, Goillat, Golle and Goulat. In Germany, Gooley is spelled as Goebel or Gubel and in Ireland, Gooley is sometimes spelt as Gully, Gullie, Guillie, Gulley, Gulle, or Guiley.

In Scotland, variations of the surname include Goley, Gild, Guld, Gul, Gullie, Gullay, Gulland, Goller, Gullet, Gulley and Guille. In England, variants include Golley, Giley, Gyllet, Gull, Gullick, Gulley, Gulliot and Golyet.

Although the variant spellings and regions of origin vary, the name Gooley has maintained its original meaning of “round or globular object.” In some cases, the surname has also been changed to more closely match local accents, customs, or spelling preferences.

Famous people with the name Gooley

• Andy Gooley: Former American professional soccer player
• David Gooley: English professional cricketer
• Sophia Gooley: American actress and television personality
• George Gooley: American musician, actor, and writer
• John Gooley: British jazz drummer and composer
• Cliff Gooley: Canadian politician
• Joss Gooley: English actress and model
• Ian Gooley: Australian musician, composer and producer
• Charlie Gooley: British comic actor
• John Gooley Jr.: American Lieutenant in the US Navy during World War II

Other surnames

Gooler