Surname Cloghasy - Meaning and Origin

Cloghasy: What does the surname Cloghasy mean?

The last name Cloghasy is of Irish origin and is derived from the Gaelic “O Clochasaigh”, meaning “descendant of Clochasaigh.” The name was originally an occupational name for a stonecutter or stonemason in the Irish language. One of the earliest recordings of the name was found in County Cork, when Turlough O’ Cloghessy was recorded as a participant in an ancient Irish land dispute in the year 1324.

The name has some notable associations with Irish and American sports, with Irish hurling player Paul Cloghasy being a three-time All-Ireland medal winner. American football player Theotis Cloghessy played for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1946-1957, while Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan is a direct descendant of the O’Cloghessy family.

Throughout its history, the name Cloghasy has been used in many different ways, with descendants finding various ways to incorporate it into their surnames. It is a versatile and interesting surname that has been around for hundreds of years and is still used to this day.

Cloghasy: Where does the name Cloghasy come from?

The surname Cloghasy is generally considered to be of Irish origin, although its exact geographical origin is unclear. It is most common today in Ireland, Northern Ireland, and the United Kingdom, where it can be found among both Catholic and Protestant residents. The surname may also be found in North America, particularly in the United States and Canada, due to the large numbers of people who emigrated there during the 19th and early 20th centuries in search of a better life.

Cloghasy is thought to be derived from an old Irish surname, O Clochasaigh. This original family may have been descended from the Eoghanachta rulers of Munster in the 5th century. Over time, the surname evolved into Cloghasy, which is an anglicised form of the Gaelic name.

Within Ireland, the surname is most common in Counties Leitrim and Sligo, and its presence is recorded in the Irish census of 1659. In modern times, the surname is strongly associated it the county of Leitrim, and is found in significant numbers elsewhere in the North West of the island, particularly Cavan, Donegal and Sligo. The variations Cloghsley and Cloughsley are also commonly found in the same regions today.

It is also quite common in Northern Ireland where more than 8,000 people identified with a derivative of the surname in a 1913 census. In the United Kingdom, records of the surname can be found as far back as the 13th century. It is also regularly found in other parts of Europe, including Germany and Switzerland. Beyond Europe, Cloghasy is most common in parts of Canada, particularly Ontario, and is also found in some parts of the United States.

Variations of the surname Cloghasy

The surname Cloghasy is typically of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic ‘O Clochasaigh’, which translates to ‘descendant of Clochasach’. The name likely has its roots in the Old Irish ‘cloch’, which in English means ‘stone’. Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for Cloghasy may include; Coghass, Clochasach, Cloghasack, Cloghasacks, Cloghessy, Clougherse, Cloughessy, Cloghasse, Cloghesse, Cloghessy, Cloghsse, Cloghaisey, Cloghass, Clogueassey, CoCghase, Coghaus, Couchase, Chochease, Chochess, Choghessay, Chughessay, Cogeasay, Coghasy, CoCghaise, and Cloghessy.

The Cloghasy family name can be found among different Gaelic surnames, with records of the name dating back to the 13th century. As the name likely started off as a patronymic, spelling and surname variants have gradually developed over the years, with different spellings being used to indicate different branches of the family. Today, Cloghasy is primarily found in County Donegal in Ireland, as well as other parts of the U.K. and the United States.

Famous people with the name Cloghasy

• David Cloughy: Former professional American football wide receiver.
• Amy Cloughley: Professional female golfer from Australia.
• Ruth Cloughley: British stage and television actress.
• Tom Cloughley: British pop punk musician and lead singer of the band "The Subways".
• Robert Cloughley: Canadian television and film actor, best known for his roles in "X-Men: Apocalypse" and "The Incredible Hulk".
• Gregory Cloughley: American stand-up comedian, writer and actor.
• Frank Cloughley: Retired English football player and manager.
• Thomas E. Cloughley: American conservative political commentator.
• Ruthie Cloughley: Canadian and German Olympic rower.
• David CLoughley: British designer and sculptor.

Other surnames

Cloghasey