I am a Foley who recently learned that my ancestor Patrick Folan emigrated from Raheen parish co. Galway about 1863. In America he used the name Foley. I'd like to learn more about this name change. I've read what I can find on the Folan web sites like this but there still seem to be a lot of questions about this. For example one has posted that

"The accepted Irish language version of Folan is "Ó Cualáin". This is interstingly also the Irish for Foley"

and another has said

"Both Folan & Foley are O Cualain in Irish."

but others have said

"Actually Folan and Foley are two completly different names....Folan is O'Culain or O'Cualain in irish, wheras Foley is O'foghlu(I think)"

The explanation of the first 2 would be appealing since it would provide an easily understood explanation of this name change but as the 3rd person points out they don't actually appear to be true. Can other people weigh in on this. Can these first 2 statements be discarded as wishful thinking or might there be some truth to them that they have not taken the time to explain or give references to support.

Dave Foley