Gawley is a surname in the English language with several origins: one from a Gaelic name, the other from a German name (of Slavic origin).

Gaelic derivation

According to the Dictionary of American Family Names, in some cases the surname Gawley is variant of McGauley, which is in turn a variant of McCauley. McCauley is derived from the patronymic form of two different Gaelic names. One of these names is Amhalghadh, which is of an uncertain origin. In other instances McCauley is derived from the patronymic forms of either Amhlaoibh or Amhlaidh; these names are derived from the Old Norse personal name Áleifr, Óláfr.[1] According to Edward MacLysaght, Gawley is derived from the Irish Mag Amhlaoibh. MacLysaght stated that, in Ireland, the surname is borne by members of a sept of the Maguires in Fermanagh, and also by descendants of the Scottish Clan MacAulay who settled in Ulster.[2]

German derivation

In some cases, the surname Gawley is an Americanization of the German Colle. This surname is a variant of Gohl, which can be of several origins. It may be derived from a nickname meaning "bald" or "naked"; or it can be derived from a topographic name, or a habitational name, meaning "bare heathland" or "place without trees".[1]

Notable people with the surname

References

  1. 1 2 Learn about the family history of your surname, Ancestry.com, retrieved 7 November 2010 which cited: Dictionary of American Family Names, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-508137-4 for the surnames "Gawley", "Gohl", "McCauley", "McGauley".
  2. ↑ Surname Search, Irishtimes.com, retrieved 7 November 2010 which cited: MacLysaght, Edward (1980), Irish Families, Dublin{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) for the surname "Gawley".
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