Foley is a name with a glint in its eye — it comes from the Irish word for "plunderer," and the family wore it like a medal. From the Waterford coast and the Kerry mountains, the Ó Foghladha produced sculptors, statesmen, and singers, including the artist whose hands shaped Dublin's most famous monument. If you're shopping for a Foley, here's our guide to heritage gifts with the right amount of swagger.
The Plunderers Who Built Things
The Foley name comes from the Irish Ó Foghladha — descendant of the foghlaidhe, the plunderer or raider — a warrior's byname from the Déise country of Waterford, with a strong second heartland in Kerry. The name's most delicious irony: its most famous bearer, John Henry Foley, was a builder, not a raider — the sculptor behind the O'Connell Monument in Dublin. The full story is in our Foley surname history — the rare card material that gets a laugh and a nod.
The Foley Woven Blanket — The Heirloom Pick
The flagship of the collection: the Foley family crest displayed against a tartan background, woven into the fabric itself rather than printed. Three sizes, from a display throw to a full 80" × 60" couch blanket.
Who it suits: parents and grandparents, a Foley wedding couple, or whoever in the family most enjoys explaining what the name means at dinner parties.
The Foley Mug — Everyday Heritage
For birthdays, stockings, and smaller occasions, the Foley family crest mug carries the same story at an everyday price — fair warning, the "plunderer" tends to claim everyone else's biscuits too.
More Ways to Give the Foley Name
The same Foley crest design carries across our full range:
- Garden flags — for the Foley home that flies its colours; a housewarming favourite.
- Ornaments — small, meaningful, and back on the tree every December.
- Apparel — reunion shirts and hoodies for proud Foleys of every age.
- Tumblers, coasters, phone cases and more — everyday pieces that keep the crest close.
Matching the Gift to the Occasion
Christmas: the blanket as the centerpiece; crest mugs and ornaments for the wider list. Father's Day & Mother's Day: a crest gift honours the parent who handed the name down. Weddings: a woven blanket for a new Foley household. New ventures: for a name that took what it wanted, a first-business or first-home gift with a wink built in. Sympathy: a quiet, respectful way to honour a Foley who has passed.
Put the Story in the Card
A warrior's byname and a sculptor's legacy — the lines are in the Foley surname history. If the family tree runs through the Déise country, the Power and Walsh histories cover Waterford's two other great names — neighbours of the Foleys for eight centuries.
Foley Gift FAQ
What is the best gift for someone named Foley?
For milestone occasions, the Foley family crest woven blanket is the heirloom piece. For everyday gifting, a Foley crest mug or ornament carries the same story at a smaller price.
Does the design suit O'Foley and Foaly spellings?
Yes — the variants trace to the same Ó Foghladha root, and the crest honours the name as a whole. Search any spelling in our store to compare.
Is a family crest the same as a coat of arms?
Historically arms belonged to individuals rather than whole families — which is why we use the term family crest. Our guide to family crests vs. coats of arms explains the difference.
Can I find gifts for other surnames in my family?
Yes — we cover more than 1,400 Irish surnames. Type any family name into the search bar at the top of the page.
Irish, Scottish, and Welsh names in one family? Explore the full Heritage Trio of collections — search your surname in our store and find a gift for every branch of the tree.
