Show ContentsCaulfield History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Irish name Caulfield has been taken as synonym for many other names. The Gaelic form of the name Caulfield was generally Mac Cathmhaoil. The name Caulfield was used by people of the Irish names O Gamhna, O Caibheanaigh and Mac Conghamhna, and Mac Carrghamhna. The Anglicized form of these last four Irish surnames is Gaffney, but for some obscure reason, this has often been changed to Caulfield.

Early Origins of the Caulfield family

The surname Caulfield was first found in Fermanagh (Irish: Fear Manach) in the southwestern part of Northern Ireland, Province of Ulster, where they held a family seat from ancient times. They were directly descended from King Colla da Crioch through the Maguires, Princes of Fermanagh.

Castle Caulfield is a large ruined house in Castlecaulfield, County Tyrone. At one time, the building was three stories high with large windows and tall chimney stacks. A wooden joist from the castle eludes to the age of the building as about 1282.

The Caulfeild Coat of Arms is still seen over the entrance. Nearby, Sir Toby Caulfeild, 1st Baron Caulfeild (1565-1627) built a house on the site of an earlier O'Donnelly castle. It was burned in the Irish Rebellion of 1641, but was rebuilt in the 1660s. Today Castle Caulfield is a ruin and declared a State Care Historic Monument.

Early History of the Caulfield family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Caulfield research. Another 219 words (16 lines of text) covering the years 1530, 1545, 1565, 1570, 1587, 1607, 1621, 1622, 1624, 1627, 1640, 1642, 1671, 1682, 1685, 1715, 1716, 1717, 1726 and 1734 are included under the topic Early Caulfield History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Caulfield Spelling Variations

Just like the English language, the Gaelic language of Ireland was not standardized in the Middle Ages. Therefore, one's name was often recorded under several different spellings during the life of its bearer. Spelling variations revealed in the search for the origins of the Caulfield family name include Caulfeild, Caulkin, Calfkins, Cawlfield, Cawfield, MacCaul, MacCawell and many more.

Early Notables of the Caulfield family

Notable among the family name at this time was

  • Continuing this noble line was: William Caulfeild (1587-1640), 2nd Baron Caulfeild; Toby Caulfeild (1621-1642), 3rd Baron Caulfeild; Robert Caulfeild (1622-1642), 4th Baron Caulfeild; William Caulfeil...

Caulfield Ranking

In the United States, the name Caulfield is the 8,316th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. [1]


United States Caulfield migration to the United States +

Ireland became inhospitable for many native Irish families in the 19th centuries. Poverty, lack of opportunities, high rents, and discrimination forced thousands to leave the island for North America. The largest exodus of Irish settlers occurred with the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. For these immigrants the journey to British North America and the United States was long and dangerous and many did not live to see the shores of those new lands. Those who did make it were essential to the development of what would become two of the wealthiest and most powerful nations of the world. These Irish immigrants were not only important for peopling the new settlements and cities, they also provided the manpower needed for the many industrial and agricultural projects so essential to these growing nations. Immigration and passenger lists have documented the arrival of various people bearing the name Caulfield to North America:

Caulfield Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Mary Caulfield, aged 24, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1776 [2]
Caulfield Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Thomas Caulfield, aged 42, who arrived in Georgia in 1812 [2]
  • Henry Caulfield, who settled in Charles Town [Charleston], South Carolina in 1821
  • R. Caulfield, who settled in San Francisco in 1822
  • Mary Caulfield, her husband Thomas and one child, settled in Charles Town [Charleston], South Carolina in 1822
  • Mr. Caulfield, who arrived in Mobile, Ala in 1822 [2]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Caulfield migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Caulfield Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • John Caulfield, who arrived in Saint John Island in 1769
Caulfield Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Rose Caulfield, aged 70, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Cupid" in 1834
  • Ann Caulfield, aged 22, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Cupid" in 1834
  • Sophia Caulfield, aged 24, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Prudence" in 1838
  • Mrs. A. Caulfield, aged 50 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Wandsworth" departing from the port of Dublin, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle in June 1847 [3]
  • Mr. Lawrence Caulfield, aged 42 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "George" departing 13th April 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 12th June 1847 but he died on board [4]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia Caulfield migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Caulfield Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Michael Caulfield, (Cantwell, Canfil), (b. 1777), aged 24, Irish Labourer who was convicted in Queen's County, Ireland for life for stealing sheep, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 29th November 1801, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1839 [5]
  • Mr. Bartholomew Caulfield, (Cawfield), (b. 1806), aged 29, Irish solider from Limerick who was convicted in Colombo, Sri Lanka for 14 years, transported aboard the "Clorinda" on 23rd February 1835, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [6]
  • Mr. Denis Caulfield, (b. 1812), aged 27, British soldier who was convicted in Guyana (British Guiana) for 14 years for mutiny, transported aboard the "Barossa" on 8th December 1839, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [7]

New Zealand Caulfield 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:

Caulfield Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Daniel Caulfield, Irish settler from Drumgriffin travelling from Leith aboard the ship 'Melbourne' arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 18th March 1861 [8]
  • Edward Caulfield, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Owen Glendowner" in 1864
  • Miss Mary Caulfield, (b. 1844), aged 24, British milliner travelling from London aboard the ship "Light Brigade" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 26th August 1868 [8]
  • Miss Esther Caulfield, (b. 1859), aged 23, Scottish settler travelling from Scotland (possible Greenock) aboard the ship "Wellington" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 8th March 1883, heading for Invercargill [9]
  • Miss Sarah Jane Caulfield, (b. 1863), aged 19, Scottish settler travelling from Scotland (possible Greenock) aboard the ship "Wellington" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 8th March 1883, heading for Invercargill [9]

Contemporary Notables of the name Caulfield (post 1700) +

  • Genevieve Caulfield (1888-1972), blind American teacher who started a school for blind people in Thailand, recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
  • Joan Caulfield (1922-1991), American actress and former fashion model
  • Emma Caulfield (b. 1973), born Emma M. Chukker, American actress, best known for her role as Anya Jenkins on the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1998-2003)
  • Maxwell Caulfield (b. 1959), Scottish-born, American actor
  • Margaret M. Caulfield, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for New Hampshire State House of Representatives from Milford, 1938 [10]
  • Leo P. Caulfield, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from West Virginia, 1924 [10]
  • John Pershing Caulfield (b. 1918), American politician, Candidate for Mayor of Newark, New Jersey, 1970 [10]
  • John H. Caulfield, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Connecticut State House of Representatives from East Windsor, 1912 [10]
  • James H. Caulfield Jr. (b. 1875), American Republican politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Kings County 5th District, 1917-22; Candidate for New York State Senate 7th District, 1922 [10]
  • Isabelle E. Caulfield, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Massachusetts, 1924 [10]
  • ... (Another 10 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


The Caulfield 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: Deo duce ferro comitante
Motto Translation: God is my guide,and my sword is my companion.


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  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. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 18)
  4. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 69)
  5. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas
  6. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 18th February 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/clorinda
  7. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barossa
  8. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  9. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  10. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 23) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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