Scally (also spelled Skelly or Skally) and "Ni Sceallaígh” in Irish and “Ni Scalaí” in modern Irish
/ref> is a surname
In some cultures, a surname, family name, or last name is the portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family, tribe or community.
Practices vary by culture. The family name may be placed at either the start of a person's full name ...
of Irish origin.
Origins
The surname Scally is an anglicized version of the Gaelic
Gaelic is an adjective that means "pertaining to the Gaels". As a noun it refers to the group of languages spoken by the Gaels, or to any one of the languages individually. Gaelic languages are spoken in Ireland, Scotland, the Isle of Man, and Ca ...
"Mac Scalaíghe ", which means "Son of the Storyteller". It was first found in County Westmeath
"Noble above nobility"
, image_map = Island of Ireland location map Westmeath.svg
, subdivision_type = Sovereign state, Country
, subdivision_name = Republic of Ireland, Ireland
, subdivision_type1 = Provinces o ...
. 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 Mac Scalaíghe, which was dated around 1100 by the Ancient Records of Westmeath during the reign of High Kings of Ireland.
The clan were forced to spread out due to Anglo-Norman pressure but many remained in the Midlands.
The form Scales is found mainly in County Clare
The form Skelly is found mainly in Counties Roscommon
Roscommon (; ) is the county town and the largest town in County Roscommon in Ireland. It is roughly in the centre of Ireland, near the meeting of the N60, N61 and N63 roads.
The name Roscommon is derived from Coman mac Faelchon who built ...
and Westmeath.
Scally also found in County Antrim and Down.
Notable people surnamed Scally
Academia
* Gabriel Scally (born 1954), Irish public health physician
Arts and entertainment
* Alex Scally
Alex Kristian Scally (born July 15, 1982) is an American multi-instrumentalist and songwriter. He is known as the co-writer, guitarist and backing vocalist of the dream pop duo Beach House, with whom he has recorded eight studio albums.
Early l ...
(born 1982), American musician
* Caroline Scally
Caroline Scally (29 October 1886 – 26 September 1973), was an Irish landscape artist.
Early life and education
Caroline Scally was born Caroline Stein on 29 October 1886 at 7 Corrig Avenue in Dún Laoghaire, County Dublin.Snoddy, T. (2002) ...
(1886–1973), Irish artist
* Gwyneth Scally, American artist
Sport
* Cathal Scally
Cathal Scally (born 1994 in Clonkill, County Westmeath, Ireland) is an Irish sportsperson. He plays hurling
Hurling ( ga, iománaíocht, ') is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic Irish origin, played by men. One of Ireland's nativ ...
, (born 1994), Irish hurler
* Ciaran Scally, Irish rugby player in the 1990s
* Gabriel Scally (born 1947), Argentine field hockey player
* Joseph Scally
Joseph Michael Scally (born December 31, 2002) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a right-back for club Borussia Mönchengladbach and the United States national team.
Club career New York City
Scally signed his first profes ...
(born 2002), American soccer player
* Luis Scally
Luis Scally (26 June 1915 – 8 July 1994) was an Argentine field hockey player. He competed in the men's tournament at the 1948 Summer Olympics
The 1948 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XIV Olympiad and also known as Lond ...
(1915–1994), Argentine field hockey player
* Neil Scally
Neil Scally (born 14 August 1978, in Paisley) is a Scottish football coach and former player. Scally played for Ayr United, Dumbarton, Falkirk and Queen of the South.
Career
Scally started his playing career with Ayr United and then Dumbart ...
(born 1978), Scottish footballer
* Paul Scally
Paul Damien Phillip Scally (born ) is a London-born businessman who served as the chairman of Gillingham Football Club between 1995 and 2022.
Career
Scally had become wealthy through the sale of his Metronote photocopier business in South Lon ...
, businessman, chairman of Gillingham Football Club in Kent, England
* Tommy Scally
Tommy Scally (28 June 1927 – 26 March 1977) was an Argentine field hockey player. He competed in the men's tournament at the 1948 Summer Olympics
The 1948 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XIV Olympiad and also known as L ...
(1927–1977), Argentine field hockey player
* Nathan Scally (born 1995), once ran a 5k in 21 minutes
References
{{reflist
External links
History of the surname Scally
Surnames
Surnames of Irish origin