Surname Fenelly - Meaning and Origin
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Fenelly: What does the surname Fenelly mean?
The last name Fenelly is of Scottish origin, and is thought to derive from the Gaelic names Fionnlagh or Findlaoch. These names mean “fair-haired” or “white warrior” in Gaelic respectively. Variants of the name Fenelly include Findley, Finlay, and Fennell.
The surname Fenelly is found most predominantly in Scotland and Northern Ireland. It can also be found in the United States, particularly along the east coast.
The Fenelly family may have had a long history in Scotland; the name is found in the records of the Counties of Dumfries and Ayr in the 16th century. There are Scottish places today called Finley and Finlayston which are believed to be named after the Fenellys.
Fenellys outside Scotland trace their roots back to the 1700s when some of the family moved to Canada and the United States. In the United States, Fenelly has been found mostly in the states of Pennsylvania, New York, and California.
Fenellys are known for their hardworking and determined nature, and today are successful in a variety of occupations, from businesspeople and doctors, to firefighters and politicians. With strong roots in Scotland and an admiration for their ancestors, the Fenellys of today make their mark on the world, whether they are at home or abroad.
Order DNA origin analysisFenelly: Where does the name Fenelly come from?
The last name Fenelly is most common in the United States, particularly in the Midwest. It can also be found in parts of Canada, Mexico, Latin America, and Europe.
The most frequent concentration of Fenellys is in Minnesota, where there is a concentration in the Twin Cities area, as well as the north-central region of the state. The largest population of Fenellys outside of the United States is in Canada, primarily the province of Ontario.
The use of the Fenelly surname in the United States dates back to the 19th century, when a large influx of Irish and German immigrants came during the time of the Great Famine and the wave of immigrants during the Industrial Revolution - and to this day there are many descendants of these original Fenellies living throughout the United States and Canada.
Most Fenellys trace their surname back to Early Modern Ireland, Scotland, and England, even though the original bearer of the name was likely a Breton from western France. Over time, the Fenelly surname spread throughout the British Isles, into Europe, and even as far as the United States.
The Fenelly surname is a unique and interesting one with a rich history. It has spread throughout the world and is most commonly found in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Latin America, and Europe today.
Variations of the surname Fenelly
Fenelly is a variant of the Irish surname O'Fialain, which is an Irish Gaelic patronymic surname meaning "descendant of Fialan". Other variants of this surname include Fainall, O'Fainall, O'Fainallain, O'Finall and Finall.
The spelling of the surname Fenelly has various incarnation including Fenelley, Fenellee, Fenellea, Fennelly, Fennelly,Fennally,Fenelly,O'Fennelly, O'Fennally, Finlly,Finley, Finlay, Fennelley, Fennellee, Fynally, Finnlay, and Finelley.
Surnames with origins from the same locale as Fenelly include O'Flannagan, O'Flanagan, Flanagan, Flannigan, O'Flattery, Flattery, Flannery, O'Guinle, O'Hannigan, O'Keeffe, Kiely, Lenihan, Lundy, Moloney, O'Loughlan, O'Neill, andTimmons.
Famous people with the name Fenelly
- Major General Gordon Fenellly OBE: British Army General
- Mark B Fenelly: Actor, producer, and writer for films such as Chacalito, A Certain Moment in Time, and Mano
- Elsie Fenelly: French fashion designer and former model
- Bridget Fenelly: Irish mathematician and professor
- Steve Fenelly: U.S. Soccer Player
- Don Fenelly: American academic and researcher
- Bill Fenelly: CEO of DHL Spain
- Janice S. Fenelly: American fashion designer and fashion commentator
- John Fenelly: Irish rugby player
- Beverly A Fenelly: U.S. federal medical examiner