Irish Family Names A
MacARDLE, CARDWELL
NAME ON MAP: MacÁRDGAIL MODERN COUNTY: Louth MEANING: `son of Ardgal'. (The name derived from árd `height' and gal `valour'.) The sept was a branch of the MacMahons.
MacAULEY, MacAWLEY
NAME ON MAP: MacAMHALGHAIDH, MacAMHLAOIBH MODERN COUNTIES: Fermanagh, Westmeath MEANING: there were two unrelated septs. In Westmeath the sept name meant `son of Amhalghaidh' (an old GAELIC name). He was a 12th century descendant of Niall of the Nine Hostages. The Four Masters describe them as Chiefs of Calry. The Fermanagh sept name meant `son of Amhlaoibh'. See the next entry.
MacAULIFFE
NAME ON MAP: MacAMHLAOIBH MODERN COUNTY: Cork MEANING: `son of Amhlaoibh'. (The name was probably related to OLD NORSE O'leifr, modern Olaf, which derived from ans `god' and leifr `relic'.) The sept was a branch of the MacCarthys and was not related to the MacAuley sept mentioned in the previous entry.