Surname Keily - Meaning and Origin

Keily: What does the surname Keily mean?

Keily is an Irish surname derived from the Gaelic surname "O Caollaidhe". The root word of the surname, ‘caol’, means ‘slender’ or ‘small’, indicating that it was a descriptive term for a person who was either physically slight or of lower rank. It is believed to have originally been used to refer to someone who belonged to the family of O Caollaidhe, an ancient sept located in County Cavan, though there are other possible origins for this name.

Historically, the O Caollaidhe sept lived in what is now known as Oriel, a region in the east of Ulster. This name was also associated with a high degree of prestige; those who bore it belonged to nobility, and at one time even held the rank of 'chieftain'. The name Keily is quite rare, but still occurs with some frequency in the Irish diaspora.

Today, the surname Keily is mainly used to refer to people who are of Irish descent or who have an Irish heritage. It is strongly associated with admirable qualities such as sincerity, loyalty and intelligence. The surname and its associated qualities are seen as indicative of the strong family ties and true friendship that the Irish are known for.

Keily: Where does the name Keily come from?

The last name Keily is most common in Ireland, particularly in Munster. It can also be found in parts of England and Wales. Keily is also commonly found in North America, particularly in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. In the United States, the name is usually spelled Kiely.

Keily is an Irish surname, which is derived from the Gaelic surname Mac Aodhghaill, meaning "son of Aodhagail." Aodhagail was likely a personal name created by combining Aodh, meaning "fire," and Gaill, meaning "foreigner." Historically, the Mac Aodhghaill family were based in the south of Ireland.

The Keily name can be found in abundance in present-day Ireland, particularly in Cork, Kerry, and Offaly, all counties in the Munster Province. It is also fairly common in many North American nations, especially the United States. The Kiely variant is particularly prevalent in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland.

There are many variations of the name, including Keely, Kealy, Kiely, Kely, and Killey. While there is no definite answer to the origin of the name, records suggest that many Keilys in England may have come from Ireland, while many in North America may have come from Scotland or England.

The name Keily is still in use today, with many claiming it as their own. Its current variations can be found all over the globe, and can be traced back to its original homeland of Ireland.

Variations of the surname Keily

Keily is a patronymic surname of Irish origin. The Irish spelling is O'Caollaidhe which is derived from the Gaelic form Ó Cadhla, meaning descendant of Cadhla. Variants of the surname include Kealy, O'Kealey, Kealey, Kealley, Keeleigh, Keillie, Keal, and Kealaugh.

Kealy is one of the oldest variant forms and it is believed to come from the Irish Gaelic word "caol," which means “slender” or “narrow.” This variant is most commonly found in counties Kerry, Tipperary and Cork. The variant Kealey is an Anglicized form of "caolaidhe."

The variant Kealley is Irish in origin and is typically found in parts of Cork, Meath and Offaly. It could also be a variant of Kealy, meaning “lovingly” or “devotedly.” The variant Keeleigh is likely a variant of the popular name Síle, which is derived from the Gaelic word “síol” meaning “seed.” It was largely found in Leitrim and Mayo.

Keillie could be a variant of the Gaelic word for “grace” or “mercy,” “caoilte.” Alternatively, it could be derived from “caoilte,” meaning “hero” or “heroic.” The variant Keal is likely a variant of Kealy or Keilley. The variant Kealaugh is most likely a variant of the Gaelic term “caolan,” meaning “little wolf.” It was most commonly found in countys Clare, Kerry and Galway.

Famous people with the name Keily

• Kaitlyn Keily: actress, comedian and YouTube star
• Colin Keily: Canadian ice hockey player
• Jaimie Keily: American actor
• Brett Keily: Brazilian soccer player
• Pádraig Keily: Irish former camogie player
• Alannah Keily: British actress
• Don Keily: American former Major League Baseball player
• Alex Keily: Irish journalist
• Gary Keily: Australian former basketball player
• Kelli Keily: American feminist, entrepreneur and philanthropist

Other surnames

KeilKeilackerKeilauKeilbachKeilbergKeilebergKeilenKeilerKeilersKeilhackKeilhackerKeilhamerKeilhammerKeilhauKeilhäuberKeilhaueKeilhauerKeilhoferKeilhoffKeilholtzKeilholzKeillKeillerKeillorKeilonatKeiloweitKeilsKeiltyKeiluhnKeilus