Show ContentsCostley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Costley surname came to Ireland with the Anglo-Norman invasion of the 12th century. They were originally from the Norman family Nangles, or de Angulos, and descended in Ireland from Gilbert de Nangle. Costello and associated variations come from the personal name of a son of Gilbert, Oisdealbhach, whose name consists of the elements "os," which means "deer or fawn", and "dealbhadh," which means "in the form of" or "resembling." The Gaelic form of the surname Costley, which predated the Anglicized version of the name, is Mac Oisdealbhaigh. This is the earliest recorded example of a Norman family assuming a Mac surname. The prefix O has sometimes been erroneously assumed.

Early Origins of the Costley family

The surname Costley was first found in County Mayo (Irish: Maigh Eo) located on the West coast of the Republic of Ireland in the province of Connacht, where they were granted lands by the Earl of Pembroke in the Anglo-Norman invasion of 1172.

Early History of the Costley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Costley research. Another 138 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1172, 1500, 1531, 1567, 1571, 1579, 1606, 1803 and 1865 are included under the topic Early Costley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Costley Spelling Variations

It was found during an investigation of the origins of the name Costley that church officials and medieval scribes often spelled the name as it sounded. This practice lead to a single person's being documented under many spelling variations. The name Costley has existed in the various shapes: Costello, MacCostello, Costillo, Costallo, Kostello, McCostello, Caustello, Costellow and many more.

Early Notables of the Costley family

Notable amongst the family up to this time was Guillauame Costeley (1531-1606), Scottish organist and 'valet du chambre du roy' to Henry II and Charles IX of France. [1] Arthur Dudley Costello (1803-1865), was an English-born Irish novelist and travel writer.William Costeley was a Scottish musician, born 1531, settled in France, and was organist to Henri II and Charles IX. Author of a treatise called...
Another 65 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Costley Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Costley migration to the United States +

In the 1840s, Ireland experienced a mass exodus to North America due to the Great Potato Famine. These families wanted to escape from hunger and disease that was ravaging their homeland. With the promise of work, freedom and land overseas, the Irish looked upon British North America and the United States as a means of hope and prosperity. Those that survived the journey were able to achieve this through much hard work and perseverance. Early immigration and passenger lists revealed many bearing the name Costley:

Costley Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Michael Costley, who arrived in Texas in 1835 [2]
  • Micheal Costley, who landed in Texas in 1835 [2]
Costley Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • John Costley, aged 3, who settled in America from Millom, England, in 1908
  • James P. Costley, aged 29, who landed in America from Newmains, Scotland, in 1910
  • Winnifred Costley, aged 4, who immigrated to the United States from Wolverhampton, England, in 1913
  • Henry R. Costley, aged 25, who immigrated to America from Wolverhampton, England, in 1913
  • William James Costley, aged 16, who settled in America from Milton, England, in 1914
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Costley migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Costley Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Edward Costley, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1841
  • Miss Matilda Costley, (b. 1861), aged 7 months, Irish settler, from Antrim travelling from London aboard the ship "Queen of Mersey" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, Southland, South Island, New Zealand on 20th October 1862 [3]
  • Mr. John Costley, (b. 1814), aged 48, Irish farm labourer, from Antrim travelling from London aboard the ship "Queen of Mersey" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, Southland, South Island, New Zealand on 20th October 1862 [3]
  • Mrs. Mary Costley, (b. 1828), aged 34, Irish settler, from Antrim travelling from London aboard the ship "Queen of Mersey" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, Southland, South Island, New Zealand on 20th October 1862 [3]
  • Miss Jane Costley, (b. 1851), aged 11, Irish settler, from Antrim travelling from London aboard the ship "Queen of Mersey" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, Southland, South Island, New Zealand on 20th October 1862 [3]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Costley (post 1700) +

  • William M. Costley, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from California 22nd District, 1954 [4]
  • William J. Costley, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Idaho, 1952 [4]
  • Mark Costley, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from North Carolina 6th District, 1996 [4]
  • The Very Rev Harold Costley -White (1878-1966), English Anglican dean and author


The Costley Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Ne te quaesiveris extra
Motto Translation: Seek nothing beyond your sphere.


  1. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  2. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  3. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  4. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 12) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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