Surname Aulay - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'A'
Aulay: What does the surname Aulay mean?
The last name Aulay (also spelt Aulay or Aulaye) is of French origin, and is believed to have originated in Normandy, France. It is believed to be derived from the Old French term “au lieu,” which translates to “place,” “spot,” or “location.” The name was likely used by a family who lived in a particular place or region.
In the late 16th century, the name is believed to have been used primarily in Scotland, with a number of variations. It is also believed that the surname Aulay was carried to Scotland by French Huguenots - members of the Protestant movement who fled to Scotland in order to escape religious persecutions.
Today, the surname can be found in many countries around the world, from the United States to countries in Africa and Asia. It is most common in the British Isles, Australia, and New Zealand, and is still a very popular surname in Scotland, where it first originated.
Those who bear the surname Aulay are believed to be creative, persistent, and ambitious. As a family, Aulays are said to be helpful and supportive of each other, and enjoy having conversations. It is also described as a slightly traditional name, and many who bear or have borne the surname are said to value traditions and customs.
Order DNA origin analysisAulay: Where does the name Aulay come from?
The last name Aulay is most commonly found in Scotland and Northern Ireland today. This is likely due to the fact that the Celtic people of Scotland and Northern Ireland have been using the surname for centuries. It is also believed that the surname originated in the Highlands of Scotland as an anglicized version of the Gaelic name Amhlaigh, which means “grandfather”.
The surname is also found in other countries around the world, such as the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, due to emigration patterns of Scots during the 17th and 18th centuries. Today, the United States has the highest number of people claiming Aulay ancestry, with more than 12,000 people bearing the name in the 2020 U.S. census.
The Aulay surname has also spread beyond Scotland and Northern Ireland to other parts of Europe, particularly France. Surnames beginning with ‘Aul’ have existed in France since as far back as the 14th century. In the first continental census of 1891, there were nearly 7,000 people in France with the name.
The Aulay surname is not only found in Europe and North America; it has also spread to other parts of the world. In Bangladesh, there is a village called Aulay where people bearing the name are mostly found. The Indian state of Karnataka has communities of Aulay people, and the name is also common in the Philippines, Singapore and Malaysia.
The Aulay surname is found throughout the world, but the common connection still remains in Scotland and Northern Ireland where its origins lie.
Variations of the surname Aulay
The surname Aulay is a variation of the Scottish surname "MacAulay" which has an ancient Celtic origin. The original form of the name is "Mac Amhalghaidh", which is the Gaelic form of the name Macaulay. The Aulay spelling is simply the English variation of this name.
Other variant spellings of the surname Aulay, or MacAulay, include Macauley, MacAwley, MacAlley, MacAiley, MacCawley, and MacGawley. Some families who have this surname may also use the anglicized versions of their names, which are Calderwood, Cawley, and Cawleywood. In some cases, the surname can be found under the spelling Ailwood, Allay, and Alley.
The surname can also be found under the cognates Allie, Alley, Alleyne, Allvin, and Allwine. Some variants of MacAulay are even spelled using the Mac prefix replaced with "Mc", such as McAulay, McAwley, McAlley, McAiley, McCawley, and McGawley.
The Macaulay clan is a branch of Clan Donald with ties to the MacDonalds of Clanranald. The Macaulay motto is "Mony je will leif", meaning "Many will live". The most prominent member of this clan is Thomas Babington Macaulay, a 19th-century British politician, historian, and poet.
Famous people with the name Aulay
- Angus Aulay MacAulay: Scottish Gaelic poet and author.
- William Macauley Aulay: Prolific Canadian actor.
- Kaylee Aulay: American Stand-up Comedian.
- Calum Aulay: Scottish Rugby Union player.
- Ross Aulay: Scottish scientific illustrator and sculptor.
- John Aulay MacCulloch: Man of Letters and Scottish Historian.
- Gordon Aulay MacAulay: Scottish musician who was inducted into the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame.
- Bruce Aulay: Canadian author and activist.
- Stu Aulay: Professional British Hockey Player.
- Andrew Cameron Aulay: Scottish Singer-Songwriter and guitarist.