Surname Kilcooley - Meaning and Origin
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Kilcooley: What does the surname Kilcooley mean?
The last name Kilcooley is of Irish origin, from the townland of Achadh Choiligh in County Tipperary. It is derived from the Irish Gaelic phrase 'Cill Choille', meaning 'church of the wood'. Traditionally, the Kilcooley surname was used to identify those who lived in the woodlands of Achadh Choiligh or those who had some connection to it.
Personalities associated with the Kilcooley name include former Meath G.A.A. football manager Seamus McEnaney from the Kilcooley family of Artiglieve, County Monaghan, and former Irish National Hurdles champion Mick Kilcooley from the Kilcooley name of Tyrellspass, County Westmeath.
While the precise meaning of the Kilcooley name may remain a mystery to some, it’s clear that the name was borne by those with strong links to a particular townland in Tipperary. It is thought to reflect the hardworking nature of the Kilcooley family’s involvement in the Irish countryside, a sure indication of their solid work ethic and dedication to their local community.
Order DNA origin analysisKilcooley: Where does the name Kilcooley come from?
The Kilcooley surname is primarily found in Ireland today, with the majority of people with the Kilcooley name living in County Down in the north of the island, especially in the town of Newtownards. Many others with the Kilcooley surname can be found living in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Australia.
The name Kilcooley has been found in records originating as early as the 14th century, when the name derived from the Gaelic phrase “Coill Chaol”, meaning the “Narrow Wood”. This likely referred to the Kilcooley wooded area, located near Newtownards and identified in records in 1607.
The Kilcooley family, of Anglo-Rogan descent, long resided in the Newtownards and Killinchy areas of County Down. By the late 19th century, many of the Kilcooley family had become displaced, with some journeying to the United States and Canada in search of employment due to the famine conditions in Ireland.
Today, many Kilcooleys still reside in Ireland and the United Kingdom, while many others have spread across the widths and breadths of the world, carrying their surname with them. While the dispersal of the Kilcooley family to other countries and continents may have meant that the surname was no longer concentrated in one area, the Kilcooley name still remains an integral part of Irish history.
Variations of the surname Kilcooley
The surname Kilcooley is an old Irish name, derived from the Gaelic Mac Giolla Chuille. In the same way as many Irish names, Kilcooley has many spellings or regional variants. These include:
-McGiolla Chúille
-Kilcooly
-Kilcoole
-Kilcoola
-Kilcola
-Kilcowle
-Killcoole
-Macool
-MacUill
-MacUille
The original Gaelic surname Mac Giolla Chuille is comprised of the words mac ('son of) and giolla (servant or devotee) and chuille (holly). This family name is derived from a place-name; there are a number of townlands named Kilcooley in counties Mayo, Kilkenny, Louth, and Laois.
Variations of this surname can also be found elsewhere in the world, as many with the surname Kilcooley have moved away from Ireland. In English speaking countries such as the United States and Canada, the surname is sometimes seen as Coleman. Similarly, spellings such as Kollcooley, Gillcooley and Coolcooley appear in other languages.
In Scotland, the surname is sometimes spelled Killgoley or Kilgoley. In Israel, the surname is often seen spelled as Killguly, while in France it is seen as Killecoole.
No matter the spelling or geographical region, the roots of the Kilcooley surname are derived from Irish, and are closely linked to the Mac Giolla Chuille clan.
Famous people with the name Kilcooley
- Thomas Kilcooley: Irish civil servant who served as Solicitor-General for Ireland between 1932 and 1937.
- Alan Kilcooley: British actor who appeared in the miniseries Waking the Dead, as well as an episode of the British soap opera EastEnders.
- James Kilcooley: Irish composer and organist who served as the Master of the Choristers at St Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin.
- William Kilcooley: Member of Parliament and merchant in colonial South Carolina in the late 1700s.
- William Kilcooley: Irish Company enlisted in the British Army in 1883 for service in the Boer War.
- Terry Kilcooley: former Canadian football player who was an offensive guard in the Canadian Football League.
- Leslie Kilcooley: Australian actor who has appeared in films such as Chopper Chicks in Zombietown and television series including “All Saints”.
- Enda Kilcooley: Irish environmental engineer who is the Director of Environmental Engineering at the University of Ulster.
- Kay Kilcooley: former English cricketer who played for Oxfordshire in 1938.
- Angel Kilcooley: Irish-born journalist and digital media consultant who works with the Irish government to promote tourism and culture in the country.