| ![Show Contents]() Comley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Etymology of ComleyWhat does the name Comley mean? The name Comley comes from the Scottish/English Borderlands and the ancient Boernicians who inhabited them. It is derived from the son of Amalghaidh, (an old Irish personal name). The distinguished name Comley is derived from the Gaelic name MacAmhalghaidh and was generally found in Dumbartonshire. Alternatively, the name could have come from the Gaelic name MacAmhlaibh or MacAmhaidh, which means son of Amlaib and in this case, the name was originally derived from the Norse King Olafr. This latter branch was generally found in the Hebrides. Early Origins of the Comley familyThe surname Comley was first found in at Ardencaple, in Dumbartonshire. Ardencaple "cape of the horses," was the ancestral home of the Lairds of Ardencaple and is located on the shores of the Gare Loch, in the historical district of Lennox, county Dumbarton. They were one of the Clans of MacAlpine. The history of the MacAulay Clan is particularly complex as there are two distinct branches, in addition to an infusion of MacAulays during the reign of Robert the Bruce. The name of Aulay, brother of the Earl of Lennox, is found on the Ragman Rolls, which confirms his pledge of allegiance to King Edward I of England. This branch entered into a bond of manrent with MacGregor of Glenstrae in 1591. The second branch of this Clan is that of the MacAulays of the Isle of Lewis. These Clansmen claimed descent from Aula (Olaf the Black), who was a thirteenth-century king of the Isles. Their lands were traditional centered around Uig. This branch was probably related to the numerous MacAulays of Ross and Sutherland. Finally, some members of a branch of the MacAulay Clann from Ireland were invited by Robert the Bruce to Scotland to help in his wars against the English. These last MacAulays may be ancient relatives to those of Ardincaple, Dumbartonshire. It was some while later that the MacAulays were first recognized as a Clan. Early History of the Comley familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Comley research. Another 54 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1595, 1767 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Comley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Comley Spelling VariationsA lack of rules and the tendency of scribes to spell according to the sound of the word plagued medieval spelling. Not surprisingly, an enormous number of spelling variations appeared. Comley has been written MacAuly, MacAwley, MacAuley, MacAullay, MacAulley, MacAwlay, MacCaulay, MacCawley, MacGawley, Magawley, Cauley, Caulay, McCamley and many more. Early Notables of the Comley familythe 'MacCawlis' who appear on the roll of Broken Clans in 1595. Their fortunes fell, the last of their lands of Ardencaple were sold to the Duke of Argyll...
Another 29 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Comley Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Comley family to IrelandSome of the Comley family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 59 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Comley migration to the United States | + |
Many Scots crossed the Atlantic for North America hoping to escape poverty, as well as persecution. Much of their heritage was lost along the way and overtime. This century, however, Clan societies and highland games have allowed many ancestral Scots to recover their birthright. An examination of many early immigration records reveals that people bearing the name Comley arrived in North America very early:
Comley Settlers in United States in the 17th Century- Henry Comley, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1682 1
Comley Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Joseph Comley, aged 40, who landed in Missouri in 1846 1
- George F Comley, who arrived in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1860 1
| Comley migration to Canada | + |
Comley Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century- John Comley, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
| Comley migration to Australia | + |
Comley Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century- George Comley, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Eden" in 1838 2
- William Comley, aged 41, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Rodney" 3
- Enoch Comley, aged 14, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Rodney" 3
- James Comley, aged 17, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Rodney" 3
- William Comley, aged 19, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Rodney" 3
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Contemporary Notables of the name Comley (post 1700) | + |
- Rick Comley (b. 1947), American former collegiate ice hockey player and former head coach at Michigan State University (1974-2011)
- Bonnie Comley, American Tony award winning actor and producer, Vice President of Stellar Productions International, Inc, best known for producing War Horse (2011)
- Victor E. Comley, American Republican politician, Candidate for Kentucky State House of Representatives 48th District, 1955 4
- John M. Comley, American politician, Justice of Connecticut State Supreme Court, 1964 5
- James Richard Comley (b. 1991), English footballer
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: Dulce Periculum
Motto Translation: Danger is sweet
- 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 Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) EDEN 1838. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1838Eden.htm
- South Australian Register Wednesday 21st February 1855. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Rodney 1855. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/rodney1855.shtml
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 12) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
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