Does anyone know the origin of the surname Folley?

Question:

Does anyone know the origin of the surname Folley?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: IRISH

The history of the name folley dates back to a time before Irish names were translated into English. The original Gaelic form of folley was O Foghladha, derived from the word foghladha, which means plunderer.

Spelling variations of this family name include: Foley, MacSharry, Foaley, Foli, Fooley, Sharry, Sharrie, McSharry, MacSharey, McSharey, Foalie, Foolie, Fowlie and many more.

First found in Waterford in southern Ireland where they held a family seat from very ancient times.

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Bryan Foley who purchased land in Virginia in 1714; followed by James Foley in 1770; the Foleys also settled in Georgia, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts.

ENGLISH
The name folley has a history dating as far back as the Norman Conquest of England in 1066 when the culture from which this family sprang arrived on British soil. It was a name for a free-spirited or eccentric person. Further research showed the name was derived from the Latin word follis which formerly referred to anything filled with air, but which later took on metaphorical connotations of empty-headedness and vanity.

Spelling variations of this family name include: Folliot, Foliot, Folliott, Ffolliott and others.

First found in Northamptonshire where they were seated from early times, and granted the lands by William the Conqueror for their assistance at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Eugene Foliot settled in Philadelphia Pa. in 1847; William Folliot landed in America in 1763; Elinor Ffolliott settled in the Barbados in 1670.