A kitchen servant or dish-washer; also a surname of Irish origin.
From Irish Ó Scolaidhe, meaning 'descendant of the scholar,' from scoil (school). As a common noun, it derives from scullery work, referring to the lowest kitchen position in large households.
The irony of the name Scully is delicious - it originally meant 'descendant of a scholar' but became associated with the humblest kitchen work. This linguistic flip shows how surnames can completely divorce from their original meanings, carrying ancient prestige into modern humble circumstances.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.