Irish names tend to vary widely in their spelling and overall form. The original Gaelic form of the name MacCowley 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.
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Early Origins of the MacCowley family
The surname MacCowley was first found in Ulster (Irish: Ulaidh), where they held a family seat from very ancient times.
Early History of the MacCowley family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our MacCowley research. Another 119 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1618, 1667, 1743 and 1809 are included under the topic Early MacCowley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
MacCowley Spelling Variations
Spelling and translation were not standardized practices until the last few centuries. Spelling variations are extremely common among early Scottish names. MacCowley has been spelled 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 MacCowley family
More information is included under the topic Early MacCowley Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Migration of the MacCowley family
Numerous Scottish settlers settled along the east coast of the colonies that would become the United States and Canada. Others traveled to the open country of the west. At the time of the American War of Independence, some remained in the United States, while those who remained loyal to the crown went north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. The highland games and Clan societies that sprang up across North America in the 20th century have helped many Scots to recover parts of their lost traditions. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first MacCowleys to arrive in North America: William, being a mariner of New London in 1634. John Cooley settled at Salem, Massachusetts, in the year 1638. Peter Cooley was a freeman of Fairfield, Connecticut, in 1664.
