Surname Ooley - Meaning and Origin
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Ooley: What does the surname Ooley mean?
The surname Ooley is of English origin, believed to have originated in Warwickshire, England. It is derived from the Old English “ool”, which means a small stream. It may have been given to people who lived near a small stream or brook.
The name Ooley is generally regarded as an Anglo-Saxon patronymic surname derived from the name of an ancestor. It is also possible that the name could have originated as a nickname for someone considered to be a “fool” or a “joker.” It is a common practice for a surname to be derived from a negative attribute, so it is possible that someone in the family had such an attribute and the surname was created as a result.
The first recorded mention of the name dates back to the twelfth century when the Assize Rolls of Warwickshire list Ricardus Oley as a witness. Later records include Richard Oley in the year 1273, and William Oley in 1607.
The surname Ooley has spread throughout the British Isles and is now fairly common throughout England, as well as parts of Australia and the USA. Today, the name is still associated with the same small streams and brooks that the first Ooley family members lived near, making the name a reminder of the past and a testament to the long-lasting impact of families from centuries ago.
Order DNA origin analysisOoley: Where does the name Ooley come from?
The last name Ooley is most commonly found today in the United States and Canada, particularly in areas of the Midwest and East Coast. The surname can also be found in other countries around the world, such as the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand.
It is thought the name originated from an ancient tribe, possibly from the protohistoric Yarra tribe of Victoria, Australia, which was active in some areas of modern day United States, including New England. This tribe also had a strong connection to the Celts, which could explain the name's spread through different countries.
In the United States, the highest concentration of the surname Ooley is found in Ohio and Pennsylvania, and it has also been found in the Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. In Canada, the surname is not as common, but it can be found in Manitoba, Ontario, and, more recently, Alberta.
The surname can also be found in the United Kingdom, particularly in Northern Ireland and East Anglia. In Australia and New Zealand, the surname is also less common than in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
The surname Ooley is still common today in its modern form, but the origin of the name still remains a mystery. Nevertheless, the name is still most prominently found in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand.
Variations of the surname Ooley
The Ooley surname has many variants, spellings, and other surnames of the same origin. One of the main variants of the Ooley name is Oley. Also spelled Oly, the variant is believed to derive from the Welsh personal name “Eoley.” The variant is found largely in the south-western counties of Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, and Berkshire.
The surname Ollaway and Olley were common variants of Ooley in the time period between the 16th and 19th centuries. Ollaway is believed to derive from a combination of the Anglo-Norman French word “oul” meaning “to waken” and the English word “hwayte” or “hagthwayt” meaning “person.” Olley, meaning “river meadow,” is a derivation of the Old English words “ede” and “leah.”
Other surnames of the same origin as Ooley include Fawley, Ole, Ollee, Olly, Uley, Otto, and Oulfe. Fawley is a Norfolk name, possibly derived from the Old English pre 7th century words “fag” or “falu,” meaning “a fire or burning” and “leah” meaning “of the clearing in the wood.” Ole is found in the East Midlands and Lincolnshire and is London-based as well. Ollee is a locational name derived from the county of Oxfordshire, as in the village of Oakley.
The surnames Olly, Uley, Otto, and Oulfe were first found in the Midlands, in Yorkshire, in the North East of England, and in Hampshire, respectively. Olly derived from the Old English words “eoh” meaning “horse” and “leah” meaning “clearing,” while Uley appears to have derived from “Ulf” meaning “wolf” and “leah” meaning “woodland clearing.” Otto is believed to have derived from the personal name “Ootta” and Oulfe from the Old Scandinavian “Ulfr.”
Overall, the Ooley surname has many variants, spellings, and other surnames of the same origin. Research suggests these surnames likely derived from the surnames of families from different regions of England that later assimilated into a single surname over the course of centuries.
Famous people with the name Ooley
- John Ooley, an American basketball coach and former assistant coach of the NCAA Michigan State Spartans.
- Matt Ooley, an American singer, songwriter, and former member of the rock band, Oingo Boingo.
- Jaelen Ooley, an American football wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL).
- Danny Ooley, a British athlete, Olympian and gold-medalist in the men's 4 x 400-meter relay race in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
- Kim Ooley, an American model and former Miss Teen USA.
- Ian Ooley, an English actor who is best known for his roles in the romantic comedy film Love Actually and in the TV series Father Brown.
- Sarah Ooley, an American lawyer and former Texas Supreme Court Justice.
- Chris Ooley, an Australian actor, best known for his role as Sid Walker in the soap opera Home and Away.
- Tonka Ooley, a British-born film director best known for his work in independent films. 10.Farrah Ooley, an American actress and singer, best known for her role in the Broadway musical Hamilton.