Surname Cloghasey - Meaning and Origin

Cloghasey: What does the surname Cloghasey mean?

The last name Cloghasey is an Anglicised form of the Gaelic name Mac an Bhaird, which translates to "son of the bard". The bard, or "Ollamh", was a person of high social rank in ancient Gaelic societies, responsible for composing, performing, and preserving poems and literary works. He could also act as an adviser to their leader or lord. As such, this surname is thought to be a direct reference to this particular profession.

The surname may also stem from the Gaelic Ollamh Dubh, which translates to "black bard", and can be found in different spellings from country to country. With time, this Gaelic name evolved from being a reference to the profession of bard to the surname that it is today. It is believed that the family originated in Scotland but is now quite widespread.

Cloghasey is not a particularly common last name, which could indicate that this family did not expand as much as others. The surname remains, though, a symbol of a highly esteemed profession of the past and a link to the ancient cultures of Ireland and Scotland.

Cloghasey: Where does the name Cloghasey come from?

The surname Cloghasey is most commonly found in the southwestern region of Ireland, primarily in counties Clare, Limerick, Tipperary, and Kerry. These counties were the primary centers of Gaelic culture in Ireland before the country was colonized by the English in the 17th century. As such, the surname Cloghasey most likely originates from the Irish Gaelic language and is either derived from an ancient Gaelic surname or could be a variation on another Gaelic-origin surname such as O'Cleirigh. The name could also be an anglicized version of another Irish name such as O Clochasaigh.

Today, the name Cloghasey is still widely used in these counties. It ranks around the 8,000th most popular surname in Ireland with approximately 1,300 bearers, of which many are concentrated in the four southwestern counties mentioned earlier. Its usage is most common among Irish Catholic families of Gaelic descent, but it can be found among other families too.

Overseas, the surname Cloghasey is most commonly found in the United States, especially in areas with predominantly Irish-Catholic populations. It is also widely used in Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, particularly in cities with large Irish-heritage communities.

Given its Irish-Gaelic roots, anyone with this name will likely have a variety of ethnicities mixed within their heritage. Therefore, the surname Cloghasey is a unique identifier of many individuals of Irish descent who still carry this name with them around the world today.

Variations of the surname Cloghasey

The surname Cloghasey may be spelled in a variety of ways, but generally follows a similar phonetic sound. Variants of the name include: Claughsey, Cloghesy, Cloghessy, Clohessy, Cloheesy, Clahasey, Clahasy, Clahsy, and Clahsey.

Cloghasey is an Irish surname, most commonly found in County Galway in Ireland. Other branches of the family can be found all over the world due to migration. There are many alternative surnames with the same origin from the anglicized form of the Gaelic Irish surname. These alternate spellings and help identify the connections that may be drawn from past generations.

Alternate surnames also carry historical information about the families. These alternative spellings might include: O’Cloghshucaigh, MacShucaig, MacChsucaig, McShaziy, Clishcay, McShazeg, Cloeshey, and Clishcay. It's important to remember that the spelling of these names may have changed over the years due to various reasons such as marriage and immigration.

Often, the variations of a family’s surname have their own unique origin stories. However, the underlying element of similarity between them all is the Cloghessy or Cloghasey name. Knowing this family history, paired with any other significant historical facts, can be quite helpful in understanding the lineage of a particular family unit.

Famous people with the name Cloghasey

• Lauren Graham: American actress best known for her roles in the television series Gilmore Girls and Parenthood.
• Tammy Blanchard: American actress who has appeared in films such as The Horse Whisperer, The Good Shepherd, and The assigned.
• Lindsey Shaw: American actress who is known for her roles in the television series Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide and Pretty Little Liars.
• Tom Clohosy Colin: English actor who has had roles in films such as Bronson, Kick-Ass, and Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.
• Elizabeth Cloughsey: English actress who had appeared in television series such as Howards' Way and The Bill.
• Steven Cloghasey: American actor known for roles in the television series Growing Pains, My So-Called Life, and Beverly Hills, 90210.
• Nancy Cloughsey: American freestyle swimmer and former world record holder.
• Spencer Clough: British actor who has had roles in films such as Empire State and The Firm.
• Jackie Clough: English footballer who played for Sunderland A.F.C.
• Mickey Clough: English actor and producer best known for his roles in The Bill and Heartbeat.

Other surnames

Cloghasy