Show ContentsGooley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Irish names tend to vary widely in their spelling and overall form. The original Gaelic form of the name Gooley is Mac Giolla Chuille. Cuille has been suggested to be an abbreviation of Mochuille, the name of a saint. However, other origins also exist for this name.

Early Origins of the Gooley family

The surname Gooley was first found in Ulster (Irish: Ulaidh), where they held a family seat from very ancient times.

Early History of the Gooley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gooley research. Another 119 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1618, 1667, 1743 and 1809 are included under the topic Early Gooley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gooley Spelling Variations

Before the printing press and the first dictionaries appeared, names and other words were often spelled differently every time they were written. Gooley has appeared under the variations Cooley, Cooling, Cowley, Cully, Colly, McCooley, Coaley, Coolyng, Couley, Colley, McCowley, Cooleng, McCoolay, Coolay, Collay, Cullay, Cowleigh, Culleigh and many more.

Early Notables of the Gooley family

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


United States Gooley migration to the United States +

The Scots who crossed the Atlantic were often on the run from poverty as well as persecution. They brought little with them, and often had nothing of their home country to hand down to their children. In the 20th century, Clan societies and other patriotic Scottish organizations have helped the ancestors of Boernician Scots to recover their lost national legacy. 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 Gooley were among those contributors:

Gooley Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Mary A. Gooley, aged 32, who immigrated to the United States, in 1894
Gooley Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Darby Gooley, aged 24, who immigrated to America from Drumgriffin, in 1904
  • Catherine Gooley, aged 22, who landed in America from Galway, in 1906
  • James J Gooley, aged 24, who landed in America, in 1913
  • William Gooley, aged 34, who landed in America, in 1923
  • Wm. J. Gooley, aged 32, who settled in America, in 1923

Australia Gooley migration to Australia +

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

Gooley Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Timothy Gooley, aged 41, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1853 aboard the ship "Epaminondas" 1
  • Mary Gooley, aged 17, a farm servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1853 aboard the ship "Epaminondas" 1
  • Margaret Gooley, aged 15, a farm servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1853 aboard the ship "Epaminondas" 1
  • Ellen Gooley, aged 14, a nursemaid, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Navarino" 2
  • William Gooley, aged 26, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Europa" 3

Contemporary Notables of the name Gooley (post 1700) +

  • Matthew Gooley (b. 1982), American actor
  • Anthony Gooley, American actor
  • Christopher John Gooley (b. 1987), American actor


  1. South Australian Register Monday 26th December 1853. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Epaminondas 1853. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/epaminondas1853.shtml
  2. South Australian Register Monday 14th August 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Navarino 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/navarino1854.shtml
  3. South Australian Register Monday 14th May 1855. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Europa 1855. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/europa1855.shtml


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