Surname O'Connolly - Meaning and Origin

O'Connolly: What does the surname O'Connolly mean?

The Irish surname O'Connolly is derived from the Gaelic name 'O'Conghaile', meaning 'descendant of Conghalach'. This is a personal name composed from the Gaelic elements 'conn', meaning 'chief' or 'noble' and 'gal', meaning 'valor'.

The O'Connolly surname dates back to the 10th century, when the O'Connolly family had established themselves as one of the leading families in Airghialla. This was a large kingdom providing jobs and protection to the extended families of the leaders. Over time, the O'Connolly family grew in power and influence, becoming a major landowning family in the region. This success was further enhanced in the 12th century with the flourishing of Irish literature, including the works of the great family historian, Ó Cléirigh.

Since then, members of the O'Connolly family have achieved success and fame in many fields. In politics, the most famous was Robert O'Connor, a former President of Ireland. In sport, Henry O'Connor was a renowned Gaelic footballer, while Michael O'Shea represented Ireland in the Olympic Games in rowing. In the arts, the celebrated Irish painter Seán O'Connor achieved both success and acclaim in the late 19th century.

The O'Connolly family is proud of its roots and shows a strong connection to their homeland. This is a family with a great legacy and a proud history of success. The name O'Connolly represents a strong sense of Irish pride with a commitment to continuing the family's legacy of excellence.

O'Connolly: Where does the name O'Connolly come from?

The last name O'Connolly is a common name in Ireland, particularly in the Province of Connacht in the western part of the country. This name is derived from the Gaelic Ó Conghalaigh, which literally translates to "Descendant of Conghalach". Conghalach was the grandson of King Niall of the Nine Hostages, who according to Irish folklore and history was one of the first high kings of Ireland in the 4th century.

Today, O'Connolly is a very popular surname all over Ireland, especially in counties such as Galway, Mayo, and Sligo. In recent years, the name has spread to other parts of the world due to immigration. It can now be found in places such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom.

The spelling of the surname is the same everywhere, but in some areas, the apostrophe that indicates possession has been dropped. In other cases, some descendants of O'Connolly have Anglicized their name to Connolly, and there are even some variations of this, such as Connelly and Conally.

Despite its Irish origins, the O'Connolly name has varied cultural associations. For example, Saint Patrick's Day celebrates the religious institution that was founded by O'Connolly at Saul in County Derry in the 5th century. In addition, St. John's College in Cambridge, England, was founded by the O'Connor family in 1511.

Variations of the surname O'Connolly

The O’Connolly surname has a variety of spellings and variant surnames stemming from the original Gaelic name O' Conghalaigh. Other variants of the O’Connolly surname include Connely, Connally, Connelly, Conley and Connolly. Each of these variant spellings have descended from the original O' Conghalaigh, due to the changes that occurred in the English language over time.

In the sixteenth century, Irish records began to list O' Conghalaigh in Latin as "O' Conchubhalaigh." This Latinization of the name remained popular amongst Irish families living outside Ireland until the 19th century. From there, Anglicized versions of the surname became popular, and mainly included O' Connally, O' Connelly, O' Conley, and O' Connolly.

The O'Connolly spelling is the Anglicized form that has stuck from the eighteenth century. In some cases, the "O'" designation has been dropped from the surname, although the sound is still similar. Typically, if someone has come from Ireland and emigrated elsewhere, most likely they will have an Anglicized version of the original Irish name, and the spelling can vary from person to person.

The English versions of the name hint at the original Gaelic spelling, but some Anglicized ideas show a little creativity from the original Irish spelling. For example, the name "Conally" dropped the initial "O" and added an extra "l" after the "Con". While the spelling might have changed over the centuries, the name still holds its ties to Irish heritage and the original Gaelic name O' Conghalaigh.

Famous people with the name O'Connolly

• Julian O'Connolly: former English footballer who played for Everton
• Alan O'Connolly: musician known for being a founding member of the rock group "Smokie"
• Sean O'Connolly: NFL player and former defensive-end for the San Diego Chargers
• Matthew O'Connolly: former Australian politician and current diplomat
• Rebecca O'Connolly: actress known for roles in musicals such as "My Fair Lady"
• Ambrose O'Connolly: former Irish Gaelic footballer and current Gaelic games pundit
• Patrick O'Connolly: professional poker player and World Series of Poker bracelet winner
• Erika O'Connolly: professional stunt performer, mostly known for her roles in two "X-Men" films
• Martin Z. O'Connolly: journalist, writer, and historian
• Liam O'Connolly: Irish sportsperson who has represented his country in rugby and kickboxing

Other surnames

O'Connor