McAlley

McAlley
Gender	Unisex
Language(s)	English
Origin
Language(s)	1. MacAmhalghaidh 2. MacAmhlaibh, MacAmhlaidh
Other names
See also	Mac Amhlaoibh

MacAlley and McAlley are unisex surnames in the English language. There are several origins for the names.

Etymology

Both surnames can be derived from several Gaelic surnames.^[1]

In some cases the surnames are derived from the Scottish Gaelic MacAmhalghaidh.^[1] This name translates into English as "son of Amhalghaidh",^[2] or "son of Amhalghadh".^[3] The surname originated as a patronym, however it no longer refers to the actual name of the bearer's father. The personal name Amhalghaidh (also spelt Amhalghadh) is an old Gaelic name, and is of uncertain origin and meaning.^[3]

In other cases, the surnames are derived from the Scottish Gaelic MacAmhlaibh or MacAmhlaidh.^[1] These surnames translate into English as "son of Amhlaibh", and "son of Amhladh" or "son of Amhlaidh". The surnames originated as a patronyms, however they no longer refer to the actual name of the bearer's father. The names Amhlaibh, Amhladh, and Amhlaidh are Gaelic derivatives of the Old Norse personal name Óláfr.

People with the surname

MacAlley

McAlley

• Nicola McAlley, Scottish, journalist.

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Reaney, Percy Hilde; Wilson, Richard Middlewood (2006), A Dictionary of English Surnames (3rd ed.), London: Routledge, pp. 2033–2034, ISBN 0-203-99355-1 .
2. ^ Mac Amhalghadha, Mac Amhalghaidh, Library Ireland (www.libraryireland.com), http://www.libraryireland.com/names/maca/mac-amhalghadha-mac-amhalghaidh.php, retrieved 19 December 2010 , which is a transcription of: Woulfe, Patrick (1923), Irish Names and Surnames .
3. ^ ^{a b} Learn about the family history of your surname, Ancestry.com, http://www.ancestry.com/learn/facts/default.aspx?, retrieved 20 December 2010 , which cited: Dictionary of American Family Names, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-508137-4 , for the surname "McCauley".

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