Surname Calley - Meaning and Origin
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Calley: What does the surname Calley mean?
The last name Calley is an anglicized variation of the French surname "Callet." The French word callet means "little calf," implying that the family line originated from rural farming communities. The Calley surname has been recorded as early as the 1500s in the county of Devon, England, and it is believed to have derived from a French Huguenot immigrant.
Over time, as more settlement happened in the US, spellings of the Calley name are known to have changed and adopted different variations. Examples of these modified spellings include Callette, Caulley, and Calloway.
The Calley surname is fairly common throughout Europe and North America. In England, it is most commonly associated with the West Country, and it is believed to have spread widely around the British Isles, with some variations further specified as Scottish, Welsh, or Irish Calley families.
In the United States, the Calley surname can be found primarily in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and other parts of the Mid-Atlantic. This particular version of the Calley surname appears to have descended from German and Dutch settlers from the Palatinate region of Europe.
The Calley family crest is characterized by a field of black with three silver towers bearing red flags with silver stars, indicating a family crest that is either English or Dutch in origin.
Overall, the Calley surname is an ancient family name that has its origins in Europe likely with the French Callet family. It has been spelled various ways and is common throughout the US in the Mid-Atlantic and West Country of England. The family crest is composed of three silver towers with red flags and silver stars.
Order DNA origin analysisCalley: Where does the name Calley come from?
The last name Calley is most common today in the United States. According to the United States Census data from 2000, the last name Calley is found primarily in the southern states, with the highest concentration in North Carolina, followed by Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama. It is also common in Texas and in other states bordering the South.
The Calley last name is of French origin, originating from the pet name allele, which means “little bird.” It is believed the name was first used by a family of French Huguenots, who settled in England after being persecuted in France. By the time of the Revolutionary War, Calley families had already begun to immigrate to the American colonies.
Today, the Calley last name is still prominent in the South, and is often associated with military service as General Arthur Calley famously led the massacre at My Lai, during the Vietnam War.
Genealogy research indicates that the Calley surname may also have German and English roots. In some cases the surname “Calley” may have been spelt “Caller/e” or “Colly/e” depending on individual cultural background and regional pronunciation of the name.
Variations of the surname Calley
The Calley surname has several variants and alternate spellings, with various forms found in documents from the time of its origin.
The earliest version of the surname Calley is found as the Anglo-Norman 'de Calley' or 'Del Calley'. It is derived from the Latin word 'callis,' meaning a (man-made) road or pathway, and indicates the ancestors of those bearing this name once lived near such a feature.
Variant spellings of this surname include Callaway, Calleway, Callis, Cally, and Callye, Callea, Cawley, and de Calley.
The corresponding Welsh surname 'Coll', or colla, is a phonetic variation of Calley and has similar origins. Those with this surname could have originated from the town of Coll in northern Wales.
Scots historically held variations, such as Cowley, as well as Coul, Colley, and Collie, the last leaving influence in Texan markets. The spelling Coaley is found in Scotland as well as parts of Ireland.
The variations of Calley are found in many countries, including France (Calli), Germany (Kleh), and Scandinavia (Cole). The Dutch had Callije, Catalan had Calli, and Italians had Cagalli.
Overall, there are many variants and alternate spellings of the Calley surname, with each variant reflecting its origins from different parts of the world. Regardless of the form of the surname, all of the variants are believed to have a common ancestor with the Calley name.
Famous people with the name Calley
- Robert Calley: U.S. lieutenant general, known for his involvement in the My Lai Massacre during Vietnam War.
- Emmy Calley: model and actress.
- Bruce Carlile Calley: doctor and mayor of Milpitas, California.
- Charles W Calley: US Congressman from New York.
- Spencer Calley: Novelist.
- John D. Calley: Film producer and CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment.
- Loretta Calley: Professor of Art History at Cal State Long Beach.
- William Calley: American criminal trial lawyer.
- Chris Calley: American actor and musician.
- Marty Calley: American Comedian and Actor.