Gawley (surname)

Gawley is a surname in the English language. There are several different origins for the name: one from a Gaelic name; the other from a German name (of Slavic origin).
Gaelic derivation.
According to the "Dictionary of American Family Names", in some cases the surname "Gawley" is variant of "McGauley", which is in turn a variant of "McCauley". "McCauley" is derived from the patronymic form of two different Gaelic names. One of these names is "Amhalghadh", which is of an uncertain origin. In other instances "McCauley" is derived from the patronymic forms of either "Amhlaoibh" or "Amhlaidh"; these names are derived from the Old Norse personal name "Áleifr", "Óláfr". According to Edward MacLysaght, "Gawley" is derived from the Irish "Mag Amhlaoibh". MacLysaght stated that, in Ireland, the surname is borne by members of a sept of the Maguires, in Fermanagh, Ireland, and also by descendants of the Scottish Clan MacAulay who settled in Ulster.
German derivation.
In some cases, the surname "Gawley" is an Americanization of the German "Colle". This surname is a variant of "Gohl", which can be of several different origins. It may be derived from a nickname meaning "bald" or "naked"; or it can be derived from a topographic name, or a habitational name, meaning "bare heathland" or "place without trees".