Surname Tulley - Meaning and Origin

Tulley: What does the surname Tulley mean?

The surname Tulley is of Irish origin, deriving from the Gaelic name "O'Taithligh." It means "descendent of Taithleach," with Taithleach originally being a personal name meaning "peaceable" or "quiet." Therefore, the surname Tulley can be interpreted as "descendant of the peaceable one." This name was primarily found in the Irish counties of Fermanagh and Monaghan. Like many Irish surnames, it has several spelling variations, including Tally, Talley, Tully, and Tilly. The name spread to other parts of the world, including Scotland, England, and the United States, due to Irish emigration. While it is not an exceptionally common surname, it is historically significant within the Irish culture. Therefore, those bearing the Tulley surname can trace their lineage back to this "peaceable" Irish ancestor.

Tulley: Where does the name Tulley come from?

The last name Tulley is most commonly found in the United States. According to the United States Census Bureau, the last name Tulley is more widely distributed across the eastern US, with the highest concentrations being in the states of Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, and Michigan. The highest density of Tulley’s is found in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

Compared to other countries, the last name Tulley has had a comparatively low distribution in the United Kingdom, Belgium, France, Germany, and other European nations. Nevertheless, certain areas of West Dorset, Wiltshire, Derbyshire, and Lancashire in England have seen limited migration of people with the last name Tulley in the recent past.

The last name Tulley is believed to have derived from the Old French word “Taille”, which means “position or rank”. Historical records suggest that the name originally referred to an individual who worked in a lower administrative position in a county government or as a garden laborer.

Throughout the years, Tulley families have migrated from the east coast to the mid and west of the US, leading to a broader distribution of the last name. Their confidence and expertise in farming, horticulture, and linguistics helped them thrive and prosper in the new lands. Today, the last name Tulley is no longer a rural name, but has become associated with successful business owners from many professions.

Variations of the surname Tulley

The surname Tulley is an Irish surnames derived from the Irish Gaelic Mac Tuile. The many different variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin include the variations Tully, O'Tulley, O'Tully, MacTully, MacTuile, Mullee, Mulli, Mullie, O'Mulli, O'Mullie, O'Mahula and MacMullee.

The majority of these surnames are used in both Ireland and Scotland, with some variations being found in other parts of Great Britain. In Scotland, the surnames of Tulley, Tully and Mullie are most commonly found, along with MacTully and MacTuile, while the remaining variations are found in Northern Ireland.

Tulley is an Anglicized version of the Gaelic Mac Tuile, derived from the Gaelic word ‘tuile’ which means fury or strong emotion. It is derived from a common first name in the Gaelic language Tulach, so those with the name Tulley or its variations are thought to be descended from the clan Mac Tuile. The name can also be traced back to the Irish Clan Ui Tuile, which were a sept of the larger powerful Ui N�ill.

In Ireland, the surname Tulley is found mostly in counties Galway, Mayo, Leitrim, Donegal and Cork, while the Tullys are more commonly found in County Mayo and County Galway. The variants found in Scotland are largely concentrated in the coastal regions of Ayrshire, Fife and Dumfries.

The surnames of Tulley, Tully, MacTully and MacTuile are found all over the world, coming from immigrants from Ireland and Scotland. In addition, the variations of Mullie, Mullee, Mulli, O'Mulli, O'Mullie, O'Mahula and MacMullee are also found in countries like the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. People who bear this name, and its many variants, can be proud of their Irish and Scottish heritage.

Famous people with the name Tulley

• Terence Tully: Australian dance and jazz musician, composer and arranger.
• Michael Tully: An American film director, producer, writer, and actor.
• Mary Cella Tully: American business magnate, philanthropist, and founder of The Tully Group.
• Grant Tully: American actor, playwright, and director.
• Rosemary Tully: Canadian novelist and professor emeritus in the Department of English at the University of Toronto.
• Manus Tully: Irish Gaelic footballer.
• Aidan Tully: Canadian film and television director.
• William Tully: American methodist theologian, historian, and author.
• Don Tully: Australian television newsreader and radio presenter.
• Kathryn Tully: British botanist and academic.

Other surnames

TulleTüllerTulles