Caley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Caley is a name that came to England in the 11th century wave of migration that was set off by the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Caley family lived in Norfolk, where they were Lords of the Castle of Cailly. The name was originally from 'de Cailli,' from Cailli, an arrondissement of Rouen. 1 "Hugh de Cailly, lord of Orby, Norfolk, was head of the family whence sprang the barony." 2
Another source believes that the name was from "the French town, Calais, possessed by the English from temp. Edward II. to Queen Mary." 3
Early Origins of the Caley family
The surname Caley was first found in Norfolk where one of the first records of the name was William de Kailli, de Caly who was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls of 1210. Alternatively the name Caley, is a fairly common Manx name. 4
There are very few early records of the name but researchers did manage to find two records in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273: Osbert de Caly, Norfolk; and Hugh de Caly, Norfolk. 2
"The Calleys of Wilts deduce from Norfolk. I find no locality so denominated, and the family may possibly spring from the Scottish M'Caulays." 3
The plural from of the name was popular too in the early years. The Placita de Quo Warranto, temp. Edward I-III listed "John de Caleys, Jersey, 20 Edward I" (during the twentieth year's reign of Edward I.) The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed: Henricus de Calays; and Robertas Calas. 2
Early History of the Caley family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Caley research. Another 189 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1560, 1576, 1602, 1603, 1610, 1634, 1635, 1640, 1654, 1661, 1663, 1667, 1681, 1708, 1709, 1717, 1727 and 1798 are included under the topic Early Caley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Caley Spelling Variations
Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence in the eras before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate regularly changed the spellings of their names as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Caley have been found, including Cailly, Calley, Callis, Cally, Caley, Cayley and many more.
Early Notables of the Caley family
Outstanding amongst the family at this time was William Cawley (1602-1667), British politician, MP for Midhurst in 1640 and regicide who fled to the Netherlands and then Switzerland after the Restoration. He was the eldest son of John Cawley, a brewer of Chichester, who was three times mayor. His son, John Cawley, was Archdeacon of Lincoln 1667-1709. 5
Sir William Cayley, was 2nd Baronet (1635-c. 1708); Sir Arthur Cayley, 3rd Baronet (c. 1654-1727); and John Calley (1663-1717), was...
Another 76 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Caley Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Caley Ranking
In the United States, the name Caley is the 14,675th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 6
Caley migration to the United States +
For many English families, the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. For such families, the shores of Ireland, Australia, and the New World beckoned. They left their homeland at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. Many arrived after the long voyage sick, starving, and without a penny. But even those were greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. Numerous English settlers who arrived in the United States and Canada at this time went on to make important contributions to the developing cultures of those countries. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Caley were among those contributors:
Caley Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- James Caley, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1876 7
- Mrs. L. Caley, aged 30, who immigrated to the United States from London, in 1892
- Edward Caley, aged 50, who immigrated to America from Isle of Man, in 1896
Caley Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
- Naine Caley, aged 28, who landed in America from Liverpool, in 1900
- Edward James Caley, aged 18, who landed in America from London, England, in 1907
- Mary Caley, aged 54, who landed in America from Douglas, Isle of Man, in 1907
- Elizabeth Caley, aged 45, who immigrated to the United States from Ellan Turby East, Isle of Man, in 1910
- Kathleen M.A. Caley, aged 7, who immigrated to America from Norwich, England, in 1910
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Caley migration to Australia +
Emigration to
Australia followed the
First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:
Caley Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
- Samuel Caley, English convict from Norfolk, who was transported aboard the "Agincourt" on July 6, 1844, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 8
- John Caley, aged 69, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Star Queen" 9
- Patrick Caley, aged 23, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1856 aboard the ship "Australia"
Caley 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:
Caley Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
- Thomas Caley, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
- Mr. Caley, British settler travelling from Liverpool aboard the ship 'Mermaid' arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 19th October 1859 10
- Thomas Caley, aged 21, a farm labourer, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Hannibal" in 1875
Contemporary Notables of the name Caley (post 1700) +
- William Henry "Big Bill" Caley (1873-1918), American football player, lawyer, and mine operator
- John Caley (1760-1834), English archivist and antiquary, the eldest son of John Caley, a grocer in Bishopsgate Street, London 11
- John Caley, English founder of Caleys, a department store in Windsor, Berkshire in 1823 who held two royal warrants
- Philip Lesley Caley (b. 1962), former English cricketer
- George Caley (1770-1829), English botanist and explorer in Australia
- Donald Thomas Caley (b. 1945), Canadian former professional NHL ice hockey goaltender from Dauphin, Manitoba
Historic Events for the Caley family +
- Mr. Frederick John Caley (d. 1914), British Junior 9th Engineer from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 12
The Caley 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: Callide et honeste
Motto Translation: Wisely and honourably.
Citations +
- The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- 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)
- State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2014, November 24) Agincourt voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1844 with 226 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/agincourt/1844
- South Australian Register Monday 1st January 1855. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Star Queen 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/starqueen1854.shtml
- New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
- Wikisource contributors. "Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900." Wikisource . Wikisource , 4 Jun. 2018. Web. 31 Oct. 2019
- Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html