I have traced the Cooley family back to New York State around 1825, and possibly back to 1791 in Vermont, but I’m not entirely certain of the link there.
Some time between 1848 and 1850, my 3rd great-grandfather, Jesse Hopkins Cooley, arrived in Muskegon County. The Cooley family settled in what would eventually become the Fruitport area. Cooley Road is named for the family. Pine Hill Cemetery in Fruitport is on land given to the town by the Cooley family, and many family members are interred there.
Remember, birth, marriage, death, and other certificates are public records. Your mother’s maiden name should not be considered an effective deterrent as a security question.