Golly History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The Golly surname comes from the Middle English word "golias," meaning "giant;" as such, it likely evolved from a nickname for a very large man.

Early Origins of the Golly family

The surname Golly was first found in Oxfordshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. The Saxon influence of English history diminished after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The language of the courts was French for the next three centuries and the Norman ambience prevailed. But Saxon surnames survived and the family name was first referenced in the year 1206 when Hugh Golie held estates.

Early History of the Golly family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Golly research. Another 98 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1225, 1455 and 1487 are included under the topic Early Golly History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Golly Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Gully, Gulley, Golly, Golley, Gullie, Gullee and many more.

Early Notables of the Golly family

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

Golly migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Golly Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

John Golly, who landed in Salem, Massachusetts in 1637 1

Golly migration to Australia +

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

Golly Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. John Golly, (b. 1834), aged 20, Cornish agricultural labourer departing from Plymouth on 2nd August 1854 aboard the ship "Panama" arriving in Portland, Victoria, Australia on 23rd October 1854 2
Mrs. Sarah Golly, (b. 1834), aged 20, Cornish settler departing from Plymouth on 2nd August 1854 aboard the ship "Panama" arriving in Portland, Victoria, Australia on 23rd October 1854 2
Mr. Richard Golly, (b. 1833), aged 23, Cornish labourer departing from Plymouth on 31st August 1856 aboard the ship "Severn" arriving in Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on 9th December 1856 2
Mr. William Golly, (b. 1839), aged 17, Cornish labourer departing from Plymouth on 31st August 1856 aboard the ship "Severn" arriving in Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on 9th December 1856 2
John Golly, aged 27, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1856 aboard the ship "Lord Raglan" 3

Golly 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:

Golly Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Joseph Henry Golly, aged 30, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Assaye" in 1874 4
Thomasina Golly, aged 21, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Assaye" in 1874 4

The Golly 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: Nil sine cruce
Motto Translation: Nothing without the cross.

Citations +

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)
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_australia_victoria.pdf
South Australian Register Friday February 7th, 1856. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Lord Raglan 1856. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/lordraglan1856.shtml
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html