Surname Connely - Meaning and Origin

Connely: What does the surname Connely mean?

The last name Connely is of Irish origin and is an anglicized form of the Gaelic name "Ó Conghalaigh" or "Ó Conghaile". The prefix "Ó" means "descendant of" and "Conghalach" or "Conghaile" is a personal name that can be interpreted in two ways. It is derived from the elements "con" meaning "hound or wolf" symbolizing a warrior and "galach" meaning "valour" or alternatively, it’s derived from "con" meaning "wisdom" and "galach" meaning "foreign". Therefore, the surname Connely means either "descendant of the valiant warrior" or "descendant of the foreign wisdom". It is primarily found in the northern province of Connacht, specifically in the counties of Galway and Mayo.

Connely: Where does the name Connely come from?

The surname Connely is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic name Ó Conghalaigh meaning "desendant of Conghalach", a personal name meaning "valiant warrior". The Ó Conghalaigh clan's traditional homeland was in County Galway in the west of Ireland. Despite emigration over the centuries due to economic and political pressures, the Connely name still has a strong presence in Ireland, particularly in Galway and surrounding areas.

But with Irish emigrants settling in various parts of the world, the surname Connely can also be found in these locations. The spelling of the name has evolved into multiple variants including Conneely, Connolly, Connelly, and others, based on phonetic translations and regional accents. Today, beyond Ireland, the surname Connely and its variants are common in countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, where many Irish people migrated, particularly during the Great Famine in the mid-19th century.

Variations of the surname Connely

The surname Connely is of Irish origin and has many spelling variations.

These variations in the spelling occurred mainly due to the way phonetic spelling used to be done, different dialects, as well as, the conversion of Gaelic into English. Migration also played a role in spelling changes as names were often misinterpreted or misspelled.

Some of the most common variants and spellings include: Connelly, Connolly, Conley, Conly, Connelly, Connolley, Conoley, Connally, Connaley, Connealy, and Connaleigh.

Meanwhile, O'Connolly, O'Connelly, and O'Conley are the more traditional Irish forms.

The addition of the prefix 'O' means 'descendant of,' hence O'Connolly or O'Connelly would mean 'descendant of Connolly.'

These surnames are often interchangeable and sometimes, within the same family, different spelling variants can be found, showing the flexibility with names in early records.

Though these surnames are of the same origin, the varied spellings may have evolved into unique families over time. Thus, not every Conley may be closely related to every Connolly – it is essential to delve into specific family histories to establish such connections.

Famous people with the name Connely

• Jennifer Connelly: An award-winning American actress known for her roles in "A Beautiful Mind," "Requiem for a Dream" and "Labyrinth."
• Billy Connolly: A Scottish actor, musician, and stand-up comedian known for his hilarious and often irreverent humor. He is also known for roles in movies like "The Boondock Saints" and "The Last Samurai."
• Kevin Connolly: An American actor and director, best known for his role as Eric Murphy in the HBO series "Entourage."
• Mike Connolly: He was an American actor and gossip columnist.
• Darren Connolly: A British special effects supervisor, particularly known for his work in "Gravity" for which he won an Academy Award.
• Brian Connelly: A Canadian professional ice hockey player.
• Clyde Connelly: An American animator and director.
• John Connolly: An Irish writer, best known for his series of novels starring private detective Charlie Parker.
• Cynthia Connelly: An American artist and photographer who captured the punk rock and skateboard scenes of the 1980s.
• Colleen Connolly: An Australian actress.
• Chuck Connolly: An American artist and painter.
• Michael Connolly: An award-winning Australian Paralympic athlete.

Other surnames

ConneallyConneellyConnelConnelanConnellConnellanConnellaneConnelleyConnellyConnerConnersConnery