Surname Scollard - Meaning and Origin
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Scollard: What does the surname Scollard mean?
The Scollard surname originated from Ireland. It's an Anglicized version of the Gaelic name "O'Scolaidhe," which means "descendant of the scholar". The name O'Scolaidhe is derived from "scolaidhe" meaning 'scholar' or 'student'. Hence, the surname Scollard generally indicates a lineage from an ancestor who was known for their wisdom, scholarship, or learning. This was possibly a person revered for their knowledge or teaching skills in a community. The name is most common in Counties Kerry and Cork in southwest Ireland. As with many other Irish surnames, numerous variations such as Scully, Skully, and Scullane exist due to the translation from Gaelic to English over centuries. It is also worth noting that people with this surname might have spread to other parts of the world due to the Irish diaspora.
Order DNA origin analysisScollard: Where does the name Scollard come from?
The surname Scollard is most commonly found in Ireland, particularly in counties Mayo, Kerry, Galway, Cork, and Dublin. Recent studies estimate that approximately 26% of the population carries the last name Scollard. Additionally, records list individuals with the surname Scollard emigrating to the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
In the 8th century, the original Gaelic form of Scollard was O Scollaodha, which was derived from the Gaelic name "O’Scolaodh." It is believed that the name is a derivative of the term “scol,” meaning “scholar.” In other words, it is likely that early name bearers were of a scholarly nature.
Its usage has since developed to include derivations like: Scully, Skillard, Skillen, and O’Scollard. During the 1800s, Scollard had some minor, regional variations including: O’Scollard, O'Scully, O’Skilly etc.
The Scollard surname is derived from the Irish Gaelic plunderer clans that populated certain provinces in the 12th century, following arrival from Scotland. In Gaelic, the term “O” means “of or from.” Thus, the Scollard surname translates to “descendant of the scholar,” revealing its ancient roots as an educational clan.
Today, the last name Scollard is primarily associated with living descendants of the Irish families who migrated to the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand during the 19th century. A quick search of the Commonwealth, census, and immigration records reveal that the Scollard name is distributed globally.
Variations of the surname Scollard
The surnames Scollard, Scola, Skolly, and Scald are all variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.
Scollard is an old Irish name derived from the Gaelic word “sclothar,” which means “rocky, rugged.” This is likely an apt description of the Irish countryside, where those with the surname Scollard likely originate.
The old Gaelic spelling of Scollard likely shifted to Scola when the Norman language took hold in Ireland in the 12th century. This Norman influence was strong in the northern regions of the country, where the surname Scola is still common today.
The variant spelling Skolly has also been attributed to Scandinavian influence, as Vikings were present along the Irish coastlines in the 9th century. In very few cases, Skolly may be derived from the Scandinavian “Sokeland” surname, meaning “son of Sökel” or “son of Søren.”
The surname Scald is another variant of Scollard. This spelling is derived from the Irish Language, which changed the -ard in Scollard to -ald when it was adopted as the native language in parts of Ireland.
All of these variants and spellings stem from the original Gaelic surname Scollard, which likely comes from the old Gaelic term “sclothar,” meaning “rocky, rugged.” Despite the various spellings, these share a common origin and are all considered derivations of this same name.
Famous people with the name Scollard
- Sean Scollard, former Australian rules football player for the West Coast Eagles
- Father Richard Scollard, American Catholic priest
- Angelo Scollard, American football linebacker and return specialist
- Stuart Scollard, English Actor
- Mary Scollard, Canadian portrait photographer
- Herbert G. Scollard, American doctor
- Joe Scollard, Canadian artist
- Donna Scollard, English chef
- Derrick Scollard, Irish politician
- Rachel Scollard, German composer and violinist
- James Scollard, English artist
- Robert Scollard, Canadian activist and writer
- Vito Scollard, American actor
- Ross Scollard, Australian journalist
- James R. Scollard, Canadian historian
- Jack Scollard, Irish poet
- Cecil Scollard, Irish rugby player
- Joan Scollard, American writer and illustrator
- John M. Scollard, Canadian leatherworker
- William Scollard, English stage actor