McCawley

McCawley
Gender	Unisex
Language(s)	English
Origin
Language(s)	Irish (Ir), Scottish Gaelic (SG)
Word/Name	1. Mac Amhalghaidh (Ir), MacAmhalghaidh (SG) 2. Mac Amhlaoibh (Ir), MacAmhlaidh (SG) 3. Ó Cadhla (Ir.)
Other names
Variant(s)	MacCawley
See also	Cawley, O'Cawley

McCawley and MacCawley are surnames in the English language. The names are Anglicisations of several Gaelic-language surnames. There are several etymological origins for the names: all of which originated as patronyms in several Gaelic languages—Irish and Scottish Gaelic. Although the English-language surnames are ultimately derived from Gaelic patronyms, the English-language surnames, and the modern Gaelic-language forms do not refer to the actual name of the bearer's father or grandfather. The surnames are not very common.

In some cases, the surnames are derived from the Scottish Gaelic MacAmhalghaidh and Irish Mac Amhalghaidh. Those Gaelic surnames translate into English as "son of Amhalghaidh" or "son of Amhalghadh". The Gaelic surnames originated as patronyms; however, they are no longer used to refer to the actual names of the bearers' fathers. The personal name Amhalghaidh (also spelt Amhalghadh) is an old Gaelic name, and its etymological origin and meaning are uncertain.

In other cases, the surnames are derived from the Scottish Gaelic MacAmhlaidh, or the Irish Mac Amhlaoibh. These surnames translate into English as "son of Amhladh" or "son of Amhlaidh"; and "son of Amhlaoibh". The Gaelic surnames originated as patronyms; however, they are no longer used to refer to the actual names of the bearers' fathers. The names Amhladh, Amhlaidh, and Amhlaoibh are Gaelic derivatives of the Old Norse personal names Áleifr and .

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