Show ContentsSkully History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Many Irish names are English translations of Gaelic names. The name Skully was a translation of the Gaelic name Ó Scolaidhe, which means student.

Early Origins of the Skully family

The surname Skully was first found in county Westmeath (Irish: An Iarmhí) in the Irish Midlands, province of Leinster, where they held a family seat from very early times.

Early History of the Skully family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Skully research. Another 75 words (5 lines of text) covering the year 1172 is included under the topic Early Skully History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Skully Spelling Variations

Ireland in the Middle Ages was inhabited by very few literate people. Therefore, the proper spelling of names was decided by a very select few. The surviving records for the time demonstrate that these scribes were often not consistent in their efforts for there are many spelling variations of certain common names. Some of the variations for the name Skully include Scully, Scally, O'Scully and others.

Early Notables of the Skully family

More information is included under the topic Early Skully Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


New Zealand Skully 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:

Skully Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Miss Ellen Skully, (b. 1847), aged 18, British domestic servant travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Indian Empire" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 23rd July 1865 1


  1. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html


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