Scally (also spelled Scully, Skelly, O'Scully, Scullin, Scullane[1]) and "Scalaí" in Irish[2] is a surname of Irish origin.
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Origins
The surname Scally is an anglicized version of the Gaelic "O Scolaidhe", which means "descendant of the scholar"[3]. It was first found in County Westmeath. The variations of the name were formed when church officials spelled the names as they were pronounced, which caused many different spellings of the surname.
Variations
The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of O' Scolaidhe[4], which was dated around 1100 by the Ancient Records of Westmeath during the reign of High Kings of Ireland.
The Scully clan were forced to move to Munster by Anglo-Norman pressure. One branch of the family settled in North Tipperary while another branch settled in South Tipperary. Scullys Cross can be found near Cashel[5], which was put there by the South Tipperary branch of the family.
The form Skelly is found mainly in Counties Roscommon and Westmeath.
Emigration from Ireland
Many Irish families had a hard time under British Rule in the 18th Century. Many families decided to leave Ireland and emigrate to North America mainly but also many other countries. The prospects of having their own piece of land attracted families to North America. Only the rich families did this however.
From 1840 onwards, Ireland was gripped by a potato famine. Thousands decided to flee Ireland and emigrate. Records indicate that the members of the Scally family were among the first to emigrate to America. Between 1800 and 1870, many members of the Scally family arrived in Philadelphia.[6]
References
External links
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