Scully
An Irish surname from a Gaelic word for “scholar,” “student,” or “learned person.”
The #4,060 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 35,297 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Scully is usually taken from the Irish Gaelic name Scolaidhe or Scolaighe, a form linked to the word for “school” and ultimately to Latin schola. The name likely began as a personal name or descriptive byname for someone associated with learning, teaching, or scholarship. Older scholarship also treats it as a Gaelic surname formed with a personal or agentive ending.
History
The surname is strongly associated with Ireland, especially Munster, and historical references place the family in Tipperary after the Anglo-Norman period. Nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century writers record variant Gaelic spellings such as O'Scolaidhe and O'Scolaighe before anglicization to Scully. In modern usage it remains a well-known Irish surname, also found in significant numbers in North America through emigration.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The same Latin root behind Scully is also behind words like “school” and “scholar.”
From the historical record
“SCUDAMORE, v. Skidmore. SCULLY (Celt.) the Irish Scolaidhe, Scolaighe [the homophonous -aidhe and -aighe are personal or agential suffs. : the ste,m may be O.Ir. scol = Bret, skol = Wei. ysgol (all from Lat. schola), a school] Scolaigi Ua h-Aedhacain, ri Dartraigi”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)