Surname Cloghessy - Meaning and Origin

Cloghessy: What does the surname Cloghessy mean?

The last name Cloghessy is an anglicised version of the Irish Gaelic name “Ó Clochasaigh” which in turn is derived from the Irish words “cloch” meaning “rock” and “saigh” meaning “hawk”. It is a surname that is commonly found in the counties of Kerry, Galway, Cavan and Mayo. It has been recorded in many historic documents as far back as the 12th century.

The literal translation of the surname “Cloghessy” means “the descendant of the rock hawk”, indicating a fierce warrior of strength and prowess. It is believed that the patronymic “Ó Clochasaigh” was associated with a tenth-century family from Ulster who moved south to Kerry. Over the centuries, the appalling conditions of poverty and political unrest forced many families to emigrate, with many of them over to the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and Canada.

The Cloghessy surname is still relatively common today, although the spelling may vary slightly. Many people of this surname remain strongly rooted in Ireland, but others are found all around the world. Whether descended from a fierce warrior or a long line of proud Irish immigrants, the Cloghessy surname continues to signify strength and resilience.

Cloghessy: Where does the name Cloghessy come from?

The last name Cloghessy is most commonly found in areas of Ireland and Scotland today. It is especially found in areas of County Galway in Ireland, as well as the counties of Aberdeen and Angus in Scotland. The name is derived from the Gaelic surname "O'Clochasaigh," which translates to "descendant of Clochasach."

Researchers have estimated that the Cloghessys can trace their ancestors to one assumed first family member who lived in800 AD. The Cloghessy origins in Ireland date back to the late 1300s in County Galway, when records first start mentioning members of the name. Much later, in the 1700s, a large branch of the Cloghessy family emigrated to nearby Scotland.

It is believed that the Cloghessy name was adopted by other families who were not biologically related. Those adopting the name may have been from different clans, or been given the name through political or military alliances. The Cloghessy name today is still frequently found in areas of Ireland and Scotland, especially in County Galway, Aberdeen, and Angus.

Variations of the surname Cloghessy

Cloghessy is one of the more uncommon surnames and can have many variants, spellings and surnames that are of the same origin.

One prominent specialist on the subject of surnames has identified the following as common variants, spellings and surnames that can relate to Cloghessy:

• Cloghessey

• Cloghessie

• Cloghesie

• Clogesy

• Cloghesey

• Cloghesy

• Cloghes

• Clohessy

• Closchie

• Clossy

• Cloths

• Cloesy

• Classy

• Clahessey

• Clahessy

• Clahesie

• Clohissy

• Clohiski

The ancestry and origin of the Cloghessy surname is not easy to track. It appears to be one of the ‘lost’ surnames, where records have been scant due to wars, or losses of evidence. Records for Cloghessy can be found in the United Kingdom, particularly in Northern Ireland. It has, however, been suggested that the name may have come from the Irish name MacLochlainn, although there is no clear evidence to link the surnames.

It is interesting to note that the name Cloghessy is not a common name in either Ireland or Scotland. This does not necessarily mean, however, that the name is not of Irish/Scottish origin, as many names that are associated with these countries are not overly common outside of their own country.

So, while the origin of the Cloghessy surname cannot be definitively determined, it is safe to say that it has multiple variants, spellings, and surnames that have the same origin.

Famous people with the name Cloghessy

• William Cloghessy: Actor best known for roles in Coronation Street, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks.
• Patrick Cloghessy: Actor known for roles on Primeval, Waking the Dead, and Holby City.
• John Cloghessy: Award winning producer of many films, including Straw Dogs, Tombstone, and Donnie Brasco.
• Michael Cloghessy: Television producer who has worked on shows such as Automan, Party of Five, and Robbery Homicide Division.
• Jim Cloghessy: Former major league baseball player and coach.
• Mary Kay Cloghessy: Professional stage actress, best known for originating the role of Allison in the stage version of Steel Magnolias.
• Kevin Cloghessy: Retired American football player who played for the Green Bay Packers and the Oakland Raiders.
• Shane Cloghessy: British actor best known for roles in Casualty,The Bill, and EastEnders.
• Maurice Cloghessy: Irish journalist, editor, and political commentator.
• Kieran Cloghessy: Irish hurler who won the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship in 1923.

Other surnames

Cloghesey