Parent’s name

Foley surname meaning

An Irish surname, anglicized from Ó Foghladha or Ó Foghlú, meaning “descendant of Foghlaidh,” traditionally “raider” or “plunderer.”

Confidence: Likely
US frequency: Rank 667 · 49,766 people
Common variants: Foley, Ó Foghlú, Ó Foghladha, Fowley

Confidence: Likely. The main story is well supported; some details of the deeper root are less certain.

The short story

Foley is chiefly an Irish surname anglicized from Ó Foghladha, modern Ó Foghlú, “descendant of Foghlaidh.” Foghlaidh is traditionally associated with a raider, plunderer, or outlaw, but that older personal-name gloss should not be applied literally to every Foley family. The surname is historically strong in Munster, especially Waterford, and later spread through Cork, Kerry, and migration. Some Ulster families used Foley for Mac Searraigh, “son of Searrach,” an independent route. The catalog uses parent’s name with likely confidence because the Ó Foghlú formation dominates while regional alternatives remain documented.

Also seen as: Foley, Ó Foghlú, Ó Foghladha, Fowley

Sources used

Wikipedia “Foley (surname)” (Ó Foghladha and regional routes)
Geneanet “FOLEY” (Irish patronymic history)
Names2020_LastNames_RaceHispanic_Top1000.xlsx (2020 Census)