Surname Cales - Meaning and Origin

Cales: What does the surname Cales mean?

The last name Cales is of Scottish origin and is derived from the Gaelic word calas, meaning “high” or “upright.” Historically, the Cales family was associated with an area near the Firth of Forth in East Lothian, Scotland, and the earliest record of the name dates back to 1214.

During the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance, the Cales family held lands in Essex, Yorkshire and Cornwall, England. In the 17th century, some members of the family migrated to Ireland and settled in Ulster. Later, some of their descendants established themselves in North America.

In Scotland, Cales was used as a descriptive nickname for a tall person or someone who was capable of reaching great heights. To this day, the name remains closely associated with its Celtic roots.

In addition to being a name, Cales is also the name of several places in Scotland, such as Calesford, Caleston, and Calestown. It is also the name of some lakes in England.

Today, the Cales surname is fairly common in Scotland, England, Ireland and North America. Various spellings of the name include Cailes, Calese, Calish, and Caules.

Cales: Where does the name Cales come from?

The last name Cales is most commonly found in the United States, where it ranks a very respectable 2,591st in popularity as a last name. In England and Wales, it ranks 2,481st, while in Scotland it ranks at 2,272nd. However, it is notably present in other countries. Cales is most heavily present in France, where it is ranked 2,257th in popularity, followed by Germany at 2,320th, and the Netherlands at 2,532nd.

Cales is a derivative of the French word "cal, " which means "something hard or durable like stone or rock." This is why the name is found in countries with a strong French connection, most likely as the result of Norman invaders who arrived in England in 1066. The Normans were a French-speaking culture who would have brought the last name Cales to the various countries they occupied.

Though not as common in the U.S. as in France, Cales is not an uncommon name there at this time. It is most often found in states with higher populations of French-speaking populations, such as Louisiana and Maine. In other states, the last name Cales is still present but far less common.

Overall, the last name Cales is a relatively popular name around the world, primarily found in countries with some connection to French culture. The last name is still present in the United States, though it is much more common in other countries, especially France.

Variations of the surname Cales

The surname Cales is believed to have multiple origins, including French, English, German, Spanish, and Dutch. The variants, spellings, and surnames of this origin are listed below:

French: Calle, Calles, Cale, Call

English: Cale, Calle, Call

German: Kal, Kahl, Kall

Spanish: Calles, Caalles

Dutch: Kal, Kalle

Variants, spellings, and surnames of Cales may also include, but are not limited to: Cails, Calas, Cales, Ceals, Ceals, Kales, and Kalls.

The French origins of the Cales surname stem from the Old French word "cal" meaning "contention" and ultimately from the Latin "calēre" which means "to be hot or fervent". It may have originated as a status name for a hot-tempered individual or one who was very passionate.

The English variant of the Cales surname is understood to have derived from the Old English word "ceal," which meant "cool, cold, or chill." This could have been a nickname for someone who was especially cool-headed and even-tempered.

The German variant appears to come from the Middle High German word “kal” meaning “bare, bleak, or barren”. It could be a topographic name describing a particularly cold, barren landscape or it could have been a nickname for a particularly taciturn or severe individual.

The Spanish origin shares a similar meaning to its French counterpart as it stems from the Spanish word “cal” meaning “pack of hounds”, although this could also refer to a hunter or the leader of a hunt.

The Dutch version of Cales also looks to the Middle Dutch word “kal” meaning “resolute” or “bold” which could be derived from a nickname bestowed on someone known for their confidence.

Famous people with the name Cales

• Tyler Cales, professional football player
• Sidney Cales, First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army
• Victoria Cales, actress who has appeared in numerous movies and television shows
• Jim Cales, American basketball coach
• Sarah Catherine Cales, an American poet and writer
• Justin Cales, Beverly Hills-based plastic surgeon
• Jeff Cales, award-winning music composer
• Francis Cales, American civil rights leader
• Philip Cales, a New York-based independent film producer
• Dan Cales, motorcycle stunt coordinator and champion racer
• Michael Cales, a Miami-based real estate investor
• Larry Cales, a former NFL running back
• Fred Cales, an Australian sculptor and painter
• Matthew Cales, a Houston-based entrepreneur and philanthropist 15.Alexa Cales, a professional ballet dancer

Other surnames

CalecaledcalediCalemCalenghamCalewaert