Calloway first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Calloway has been for the last 29 years (from 1996 to 2024) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Calloway

From Old French meaning "person from Calais".

Popularity of Calloway by gender

Based on the last 29 years of data, Calloway is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 82% of people named Calloway being male.

For the most recent data in 2024, there were 87 male babies and 22 female babies born with the name Calloway.

YearMale CountFemale Count
20248722
20237015
20226019
2021477
2020389
2019359
2018337
2017349
2016216
2015190
2014207
201390
201265
201170
201090
200950
200850
200750
200580
200180
199760
199670

The history of the first name Calloway

The given name Calloway has its origins in the English language, tracing back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "calu" (bald) and "wealh" (foreigner or stranger), possibly referring to a person with a bald or tonsured head who was a foreigner or outsider.

The name Calloway was initially associated with several regions in England, particularly in the northern counties of Yorkshire and Northumberland. It is thought to have been used as a surname before becoming a popular first name in its own right.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Calloway can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings and properties in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry mentions a person named "Caluuualoc" residing in the village of Potterspury, Northamptonshire.

In the 12th century, a notable figure named Calloway was Sir Calloway de Bouville, a Norman knight who fought alongside King Richard I during the Third Crusade (1189-1192). He was renowned for his bravery and loyalty to the English crown.

During the 15th century, the name Calloway gained prominence with the birth of Calloway Carew (1420-1492), a wealthy landowner and member of the gentry in Somerset, England. He was instrumental in the construction of several churches and monasteries in the region.

Another significant bearer of the name was Calloway Leighton (1609-1671), an English philosopher and theologian who made significant contributions to the field of metaphysics. His work "On the Nature of Being" was widely acclaimed in academic circles of the time.

In the realm of literature, the name Calloway is associated with the English poet and playwright Calloway Marlowe (1564-1593), best known for his works such as "The Tragical History of Dr. Faustus" and "The Jew of Malta."

These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who carried the given name Calloway. While its usage may have fluctuated over the centuries, the name has maintained a distinct presence in the English-speaking world, reflecting its rich historical legacy.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Calloway was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Calloway, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

Search for a name

Search for a first or last name to learn more about its origin, meaning, and more.

Simple as that.

Search
Search
Background shape