CAULFIELD
The surname Caulfield has its roots in the Gaelic name Mac Cathmhaoil, a patronymic that literally translates to “son of Cathmhaoil.” The compound incorporates cath, meaning battle, and maol, a term that can denote chief or bald, and thus the name conveys the sense of a “battle chief” or a leader in martial affairs.
Although the family name is primarily Irish in origin, records from the early modern period document an English form that appears first as Calfehill in 1565. The earliest bearer described is Sir Toby Caulfield, baptised in Oxford during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. No extant place bears the name Caulfield; the nearest medieval reference is to a lost village, Calfhalle, situated in Cheshire in the year 1315. Some scholars regard the English usage as an Anglicisation of the Gaelic patronymic, while others suggest that the name may reflect an English "planter" family that established itself in Ulster in 1607.
In Ireland the Caulfields were granted extensive estates in Ulster during the 17th and 18th centuries. The 1880 estate records show that the family held 26 000 acres within the province. Notable members of the family include James Caulfield (1728–1799), the first Earl of Charlemont, James Caulfield (1740–1810), who served as Catholic Bishop of Ferns, and Richard Caulfield of Castlecaufield (1823–1887). The family arms are blazoned as barry of ten silver and red, on a canton of the second a lion passant.
The Great Irish Famine of the mid‑19th century prompted significant emigration, and bearers of the surname dispersed to the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia, and other parts of the world. The name remains common, particularly within northern counties of Ireland such as Tyrone, where the family originally held its seat.
Variations in spelling are numerous, reflecting phonetic adaptation and administrative convenience. Recorded forms include Caufield, Cawfield, MacCaulfield, McCaulfield, and Caulfeild. Some families of the same Gaelic origin have chosen to Anglicise their surname to Howell or Hoyle. Despite these divergent styles, the lineage can be traced back to the original patronymic Mac Cathmhaoil.
Typical given names associated with the Caulfield surname
Male
- Anthony
- David
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Patrick
- Paul
- Peter
- Stephen
- Thomas
Female
- Anne
- Claire
- Deborah
- Elizabeth
- Helen
- Jane
- Jennifer
- Kathleen
- Margaret
- Mary
- Michelle
- Nicola
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Caulfield in...
Braille
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Morse
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Semaphore
There are approximately 3,269 people named Caulfield in the UK. That makes it roughly the 2,779th most common surname in Britain. Around 50 in a million people in Britain are named Caulfield.
Surname type: Location or geographical feature
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Caulfield
- Maxwell Caulfield - Actor
- Patrick Caulfield - Artist (1936 to 2005)
- Maria Caulfield - Politician
- Jo Caulfield - Comedian
- Peter Caulfield - Actor
- Billy Caulfield - Football player (1892 to 1972)
- Peter Caulfield - Scottish football manager
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.