1,176 Global Cogley Family Members

Cogley Family History

Recorded in the spelling forms of Quigley, Kegley, and Cogley, this is an Irish surname of ancient origins. It derives from the 12th century Gaelic O'Coigligh, a nickname for an untidy person, or possibly one with long, flowing, hair. Most Irish surnames originate from a nickname, this nickname being given in ancient times to the leader of the emerging clan. The "O" suffix has been lost since the early 19th century, in common with many other surnames, and is rarely seen now. The clan originates from the far west of the county in County Mayo, and although there is some evidence of them being dispersed in the 16th century, its main residential area remains in Donegal and Sligo.

Cogley Family from Wexford

THE Cogleys are of ancient origin in Co. Wexford. They appear to be an old Gaelic sept-O'Coigligh-which one authority derives from 'coigeal', denoting a person with unkempt hair. 

Whilst they do not figure in the history of the county due, probably, to the subjugation of the native Irish by the great Norman overlords, the Cogleys were of sufficient prominence to be named amongst the principal Irish families in the Barony of Bantry when a census was taken in 1659.

They were still occupiers in the Bantry parishes of Adamstown and Ballyhogue when Griffith's Valuation was compiled two hundred years later (1853), but by then the majority of Cogleys were located in the following old parishes of Shelmalier West: Clonmore, Newbawn, Horetown, Ballylannon, Clongeen and Coolstuff. There were other Cogleys at Kilmannon, Ballyconnick and Kilmore (in Bargy), St. John's (Wexford town) and Kilmore (in Bargy), Owenduff in Shelburne and Templeshannon in Ballaghkeen South.

Rev. Patrick Cogley was pastor of the old parish of Clone (now Monageer) from 1780 to 1802. This included the turbulent period of the 1798 rebellion when his curate was Fr. John Murphy who became a famous leader of the insurgents. On July 1, 1799, the Orangemen burned the parochial house at Monageer and Fr. Cogley had to conceal himself for a time. In 1801 he made an affidavit rebutting allegations by Sir Richard Musgrave that he did not give protection to Protestants.

Fr. Cogley received as a gift from William Wheeler, Esq., Enniscorthy, the holy water font still in use in Monageer Church. According to an account in 'The People' (10-10-1908) Fr. Cogley had his coffin ready for some time before his death and kept it in the sacristy of the church where it was useful as a receptacle for vestments, etc. In 1802 he was transferred to Duncormick where he died the following year, at 52. He was buried in Coolstuff (Taghmon Parish) where, as we have noted, a Cogley family was still living in 1853. Another priest of the name Fr. James Cogley, is the present curate in Kilmore Quay. He was born at Newcastle, Cleariestown (Rathangan).

A notable old maritime family of Cogley lived in School St., Wexford. Captain Patrick Cogley was pilotmaster for 25 years at the historic Old Fort at the entrance to Wexford harbour which was finally washed away in 1927. His three sons, Christopher, Aidan and Patrick were also mariners. Christopher and Aidan commanded passenger steamers plying between Liverpool and Ireland, Christopher being Commodore Captain of the Coastline Co. vessels for 45 years. Patrick, who died in April, 1957, aged 84, began his sea-going life in the old Wexford sailing ships.

He later joined the Irish Lights Service and was afterwards pilotma and Harbour Master in Wexford.

Captain Patrick Christopher Cogley (a nephew) served in the Rou Navy and later captained the Wexford vessel 'Elsie Annie'. Mitchell Cogley, a former Sports Editor of the Irish Independent belonged to this family.