Surname Dooly - Meaning and Origin
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Dooly: What does the surname Dooly mean?
The last name Dooly is an English surname. According to the Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland, the name derives from the Old English word 'dolh', meaning 'meadow'. This indicates that the first person to be known by the name Dooly was likely a person who lived near or passed through a meadow. Additionally, the Dooly surname was originally most commonly found in Essex, indicating that the first individuals with this name were likely native to this area.
The meaning of the surname can still be seen today in the name of many places throughout England, such as the village of Dooly in Cumbria and Dooley Bridge in Derbyshire. The first person to be known by the name Dooly was most likely an agricultural laborer or small landowner in an area with meadows, although this is a theory that cannot be proven.
Throughout history, the Dooly name has been adopted in many different countries. It is most common in England, but it can also be found in Scotland, Ireland and the United States. In the United States, the Dooly family likely moved from England to the colonies in the 18th or 19th century, although there is no record of this.
As a surname, Dooly symbolises a connection to the English landscape and a long history. It is a unique name that represents a strong connection to the land and the people who first carried it.
Order DNA origin analysisDooly: Where does the name Dooly come from?
Dooly is an Irish surname of Norman-Gaelic origin. It is most commonly found in the southern Irish counties of Cork, Kilkenny and Wexford, as well as in Northern Ireland. The surname was also found in early Gaelic records in many parts of Scotland, including Ross-shire and Mull.
The earliest records of the name in Ireland date back to the 16th century, when Hugo Dooley (or Duly) was Mayor of Cork. The Doolys were among the first to arrive in the region, with most settling in and around what is now Timoleague in nearby County Cork. It is believed that the family may have originated further north, in Scotland, however there is no conclusive evidence of this.
The name Dooly is also found in the United States, with the earliest record of the name occurring in New York in 1837. Census records from the later part of the 19th century show that most of those with the Dooly name lived in Massachusetts and Maine, where the majority of Irish immigrants had settled. The name is also found in Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Today, the surname Dooly is most common in all of its countries of origin, with the vast majority of those bearing the surname residing in America. Other less common countries include the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand.
Variations of the surname Dooly
The surname Dooly is of Irish origin and is also spelt Dullea, Doolie, Doola and Dulley. It is derived from the Gaelic name Ó Dubhghaill, meaning ‘descendant of Dubhghall’. The name Dubhghall is made up of the elements ‘dubh’ meaning black or dark, and ‘gall’ which means ‘stranger’.
Many variants of Dooly exist, including Dooling, Dole, Dooley, Doolan, Doolin, Dullea, Doolie, Doola, Dulley, Dollie, Doolan, Doolen, Dooling, Dolling, Doughill and Dowell.
The Dooly surname is most commonly found in Ireland, especially in the provinces of Ulster and Connacht. In Scotland, the surname has been found mainly in the border area near the Irish Sea, including Ayrshire, where a John Doolie is on record in the year 1684.
The surname is also common in Australia, where it is mainly found in New South Wales, in particular in the former convict settlements of Sydney and Hunter Valley. It is also found in the United States, where it is mainly concentrated around the urban areas of New York and New Jersey.
The Dooly name in Ireland has associations with the ancient land of Uí Maine, a minor mythical kingdom in what is now the Province of Connacht. It was formerly known as Áth Truim. This was home to the Uí Maine dynasty of the O’Madden and O’Dohorty clans, who would have been the custodians of the Dooly surname.
Famous people with the name Dooly
- Caroline Dooly: A two-time Emmy nominated and Obie winning costume designer for theatre. She designed costumes for the Broadway production of Hamilton, as well as NBC’s The Wiz Live.
- Gordan Dooly: An American professional basketball player for the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association (NBA) in the 1990s.
- John Dooly: A lawyer who served in the United States House of Representatives from Georgia for one term from 1815 to 1817.
- Matthews Dooly: An American actor widely known for his roles as Aloysius “Al” Caferelli in the comedy series My Big Fat Greek Life, and as Chooka in The Hangover.
- Patrick Dooly: An Irish-American Civil War soldier best known for his role in the Battle of Gettysburg.
- Ray Dooly: A Major League Baseball infielder who played racily for the Boston Doves in 1909.
- Robert Dooly: An American politician best known for representing Burke County in the Georgia House of Representatives from 1982 until 2002.
- Ruth Geraldine Dooley: An American actress and singer who performed on Broadway in musicals such as Fiddler on the Roof, Hello, Dolly!, and The Music Man.
- Valda Dooly: An American television journalist and news anchor who was an anchor for WTVH-5 in Syracuse, New York.
- William Dooly: An American professor who taught philosophy, economics, and history at Cal State University, Fullerton, and held various important posts.