Surname Cally - Meaning and Origin
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Cally: What does the surname Cally mean?
The surname Cally is believed to have originated in Scotland and Northern Ireland as an anglicized form of the Gaelic Mac Dhomhnaill or MacDonnell. It is an occupational name derived from the Old English word “calu” which meant "churl" or "servant", and the ancient Germanic word "wald" which meant "rule". This could refer to someone who was employed as a servant in the court of someone important or powerful.
The name Cally also has the connotation of ‘film star’ as it is the first name of the Hollywood star, Cally Gale, who is still a household name today.
In the U.S., the Cally surname is most prevalent in New York and California. The population density per million people is higher in New York and California than the nation average, with 11 people per million and 8 people per million respectively.
The Cally surname is most commonly associated with families of Irish, Scottish, and English descent in the United States. It is seen primarily as a family name, although its origin goes back to the occupational names of old. It could refer to a servant in the court of someone of power or authority in the past. Today, however, the surname Cally is mostly associated with Hollywood glamour and star quality due to the success of Cally Gale, and could be seen as a sign of prestige.
Order DNA origin analysisCally: Where does the name Cally come from?
The last name Cally is primarily found in the United States and Canada. It is most common in the Midwestern United States and in provinces like Ontario and Quebec in Canada. Research from the US Census Bureau shows that Wisconsin and Minnesota, as well as neighboring states, Iowa and Michigan, have some of the highest numbers of the last name in the US.
In Canada, Quebec has historically had the largest population of individuals named Cally. This is due to the amount of people with French Canadian ancestry in the province. It is also common in other Canadian provinces like Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta, and British Columbia.
The origin of the name Cally is uncertain. It may have been derived from the Gaelic name MacCeallaigh, meaning “son of Ceallagh”. It could also be derived from the Old English word ceald, meaning cold or wintry.
Other than the US and Canada, individuals with the name Cally are also found in the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. A small number of individuals with the name can be found in most other European countries as well.
Variations of the surname Cally
The surname Cally has several variants and spellings and can sometimes be used as a given name. Variants and spellings of the surname Cally include Kally, Cahill, Callie, Calli, Calley, Callye, Caulley, and Cauley.
Cally is an Irish surname, likely coming from the Gaelic name O’Caollaidhe, which refers to a person from a place named Caillaidhe, currently known as Killybegs in Donegal. It is derived from the word caol, which means “small and narrow”, and may refer to a narrow pass or a slender person.
The spelling Cahill is also commonly found, and is an Anglicization of the Irish surname O’ Cathail, which most likely comes from Cathal, an old Gaelic personal name derived from cath, meaning ‘battle’.
The spelling Callie is another variant used and is usually derived from a combination of a surname and a given name. Examples of this combination include John Callie or Thomas Callie.
The spelling Calley is also found, derived either from a corrupted version of the Irish surname O’Calldhaigh or from an old English first name, Aecella.
The spelling Callye or Cauley is found in Scotland and is derived from the Gaelic name McCauley or MacCauley, which may have been usedas an Anglicization of the Irish surname O’Cathail.
In some cases, Cally is used as a given name. It is a unisex name and has been derived from the name Callie or Calli, which is derived from the Greek name Calliope, meaning “beautiful voice”.
Famous people with the name Cally
- Natalya Cally: Natalya Cally is an Australian pop singer, songwriter, and model. She was the runner-up on the ninth season of Australia's Got Talent.
- Daniel Emmet Cally: Daniel Emmet Cally is an experimental musician and singer-songwriter from Houston, Texas. He has released several solo records and collaborates in groups such as The Robot Factory.
- Bart Cally: Bart Cally is a Belgian professional football player who currently plays for Royal White Star Bruxelles. Cally was part of the national team that won the 2013 U-17 European Championship.
- Christopher Cally: Christopher Cally is a British actor, best known for his roles in films and TV series such as Mulholland Drive and Angel Eyes.
- Bob Cally: Bob Cally is an American painter and sculptor with works in galleries and museums across the United States.
- Ted Cally: Ted Cally is an English voice actor. He has provided voices for characters in numerous animated TV series and video games, such as Top Cat and Ben 10: Omniverse.
- Mackenzie Cally: Mackenzie Cally is a British soap opera actor who has starred in productions such as Coronation Street and Hollyoaks.
- Charles Cally: Charles Cally was an American politician. He served as a U.S. Representative from New York and was a member of the Democratic Party.
- Anne Cally: Anne Cally is a French Olympic swimmer, who won two silver medals in the 4x200m freestyle relay at the 1984 and 1988 Summer Olympics.
- Smith Cally: Smith Cally was an American baseball player. He played for Major League Baseball teams such as the St. Louis Brown Stockings, the Louisville Grays and the Detroit Wolverines.