Surname Fealy - Meaning and Origin

Fealy: What does the surname Fealy mean?

The last name Fealy is an anglicised version of the original Irish surname Ó Fíodhaile. This surname was derived from the Ancient Irish language and translates to ‘descendant of Fiodhlaith’, with Fiodhlaith meaning ‘lordly’ or ‘of the prince’.

The Fealeys are believed to be an ancient family, with their origins dating back to the 5th century. It is likely they descended from one of the powerful clan leaders in what is known as Thomond - the historical name for the area of County Clare.

The Fealeys were mainly located in the counties of Galway and Clare, and during the 1600s-1700s they were a powerful ruling family in the West of Ireland.

The name Fealy is still common in Ireland to this day and is also thought to be popular in England and Scotland. People with this last name are often interested in their heritage and can trace their family history back to Thomond, County Clare. The original spelling of the name, which is Ó Fíodhaile, is sometimes seen in official documents.

In summary, the last name Fealy is an anglicised version of an old Irish surname and is thought to originate from Thomond, County Clare. It is believed to be descended from a powerful ruling family and is still common in Ireland and can now be found all over the world.

Fealy: Where does the name Fealy come from?

The Fealy surname is most common today in the areas of Ireland and the United Kingdom. The first records of the Fealy name date back to MacFeely, a chief involved in a dispute in the year 1204 in the Limerick area. Their presence in the area is evidenced through their involvement in military and religious fields as well as in the arts, literature, and politics.

Today the surname Fealy is also found in different parts of the English-speaking world, especially in countries like Australia, Canada, and the United States. The origin of the family in these countries can be traced back to the great wave of Irish immigrants who sought a better life during the 1800s.

In Australia, the Fealy family is quite common in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, particularly in the larger cities like Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra. They are also active in Victoria, Queensland, and Western Australia - with a concentration of Fealy families in the northern and western areas of the country.

In Canada, the Fealy family is most present in Ontario, with smaller populations in other parts of the country such as British Columbia and Alberta. The families who immigrated from Ireland in the 19th century settled in the East and West coasts of Canada, and their descendants moved west to settle in the Prairie provinces.

Finally, the Fealy surname is one of the most common in the United States, particularly in the states of Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. It is also common in California, Illinois, Texas, Louisiana, and Georgia. Most of the Fealy family in the United States, however, have descended from the Irish immigrants who actively assimilated into the culture.

Variations of the surname Fealy

The surname Fealy is an anglicized form of the Irish surname, Ó Faoláin, which comes from the Irish Gaelic word 'faol', meaning 'wolf'. The Fealy surname, however, has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.

The most common variant of Fealy is the Irish name O'Fealy, which is an anglicized form of the Irish Gaelic name Ó Faoláin. Another variant is O'Foley, which is also an anglicized form of the Irish Gaelic surname Ó Faoláin.

Other variants of the Fealy surname include the variants Fallane, Faelan, Faelyn, Failey, Faillen, Faillion, Failing, Fally, Fellow, Fellows, and many more.

The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin of the Fealy surname can also be found in countries other than Ireland, such as the United Kingdom. In the United Kingdom, the surname is usually spelled Faley, Falley, Fallowes, Feeley, and Fowles.

The Fealy surname is also found in countries such as the United States, Canada, and Australia. In the United States and Canada, the name is usually spelled O'Faley, Failey, Faely, Faileigh, Failey, and Faille. In Australia, the name is usually spelled Failey, Fallons, Fealy, and Folin.

In terms of spelling variations, Fealy may also be seen spelled as Feely, Faillie, Feley, Falley, and Fele.

Overall, the surname Fealy has many variants and spellings of the same origin. They can be found in countries all over the world, including Ireland, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Australia.

Famous people with the name Fealy

• Maureen O'Sullivan (Fealy): Irish actress who starred in the classic Tarzan movies.
• Charley Fealy: American film director who worked from the 1910s to the 1950s.
• Richard Fealy: Irish footballer who played for Bohemains F.C. between 1907 and 1915.
• Bernard Fealy: Irish politician who served in the House of Commons from 1921 to 1933.
• Sean Fealy: British actor who appeared in The Railway Children and Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day.
• Cathy Fealy: Irish author who wrote the historical novel The Iron Madonna.
• Alice Fealy: Irish actress who appeared in the TV series Hide & Seek and Play for Today.
• Robert Fealy: Irish actor and director who worked for Pathe and Gaumont Film Company.
• Eamon Fealy: Professional snooker player from Ireland.
• Harry Fealy: American animator and cartoonist who worked on the film Sherlock Holmes (1932).

Other surnames

Fealty