McAuley Coat of Arms, Family Crest and McAuley Family History

McAuley Family History

The McAuley ancient family history was found in the irishsurnames.com archives.

Surnames developed a wide number of variants over the centuries. Many different spelling variations of the same name can be traced back to a single original root. Also, when a bearer of a name emigrated from Ireland it was not uncommon that their original name would be incorrectly transcribed in the record books upon arrival at their new location. Some names have dozens of spelling variations. Some Surnames were also altered over the years based on how they sounded phonetically, by their sound, and depending on the prevailing political conditions it may have been advantageous to change a name from one language to another. This was especially so in Ireland where most Gaelic names were 'anglicized' at some stage.

Variants of the name McAuley include McAlley, McAllay, McCauley, McAully, McCally, McCaulay and McCauly. Their Chief seat was Ardincaple, in Row, Dunbartonshire in Scotland. Ardincaple was built in the twelfth century. At one time they dwelt in Kintail, and are often regarded as belonging to the Lennox family. It is said the original name was Ardincaples of that ilk, until they took the name of a Chief called Aulay. Aulay is mentioned in various charters by Malduin, Earl of Lennox, whose death took place at the beginning of the reign of Alexander III. Aulay was the Earl's brother. His son and successor, Duncan, a Knight, is also named in the Earl's charters. Subsequently, in 1587, Sir Aulay MacAulay is enrolled as among the Chief vassals of the Earl of Lennox. In Ireland these names are derived from the Gaelic MacAmhalghaidh sept of Counties Offaly and Westmeath and from the MacAmhlaoibh sept of Fermanagh.The McAuley family crest (or coat of arms) came into existence many centuries ago. The process of creating these coats of arms began as early as the eleventh century although a form of Proto-Heraldry may have existed in some countries prior to this, including Ireland. The new more formalized art of Heraldry made it possible for families and even individual family members to have their very own family crest, coat of arms, including McAuley descendants.