Surname Kennely - Meaning and Origin
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Kennely: What does the surname Kennely mean?
The last name Kennelly is of Irish origin and is an anglicized version of the Gaelic name "Ó Cinnéide,” which means "ugly head" or "wounded head." This name does not reflect a person's appearance, but it was originally a nickname for a fierce or brave warrior, who might have been scarred in battle. The name first appeared in South West Ireland, specifically, in the regions of Clare and Kerry where the Kennellys were known as a prominent and respected family. Like many Irish names, it spread to other countries such as the United States, Australia, and England due to Irish emigration caused by hardships such as the Great Famine in the mid-19th century. Today, individuals with the last name Kennelly might trace their ancestry back to these Irish roots.
Order DNA origin analysisKennely: Where does the name Kennely come from?
The surname Kennely is of Irish origin, most likely derived from the Gaelic surname "O Cinnfhaolaidh," which means "descendant of Cinnfhaoladh," a personal name composed of the elements "ceann," meaning "head," and "faol," meaning "wolf."
The surname Kennely is not very widespread today and would not be considered common in any specific region. However, people with this surname can be found in different parts of the world, including the United States, England, Australia, and Canada. But of course, it maintains a presence in Ireland as well, from where the name originates. Like many Irish surnames, its distribution today can often be attributed to the waves of Irish emigration that occurred particularly during the 19th century, known as the Irish diaspora. It's also worth noting that gradiations and variations of spelling for this surname exists, including Kenneally, Kenelly, Kennealy, and more, which can make pinpointing its commonness somewhat challenging.
Variations of the surname Kennely
The surname Kennely has a history that originates from the Irish Gaelic heritage. Like many Irish names, it has seen various spellings and alterations over the centuries as the name was translated phonetically into English from Gaelic.
Some common spellings and variants of Kennely include Kennelly, Kennealy, Kenneally, Kennally, Kenelly, Kenealy, and O’Kennelly. The latter indicates a direct genealogical line as 'O' stands for 'grandson of' in Gaelic.
The name Kennely/Kennelly originates from the Gaelic surname "Ó Cinnfhaoladh", which is composed of the elements "cinn" (head) and "faoladh" (wolf). Some variants of this surname include Kennefick and Kenefick which are derived from the same Gaelic surname but are regional variations.
The surnames Kennealy and Kenneally are from a slightly different Gaelic root, "Ó Cinnéide", but often get confused with Kennely due to the similarity in the Anglicized spelling. These surnames have variations like Kenealy, Kennedy, Kenneday, Kennard, Kennerk and others.
Keep in mind, the spelling of Irish surnames varied greatly due to the transcription from Gaelic to English, often based on the phonetic sound of the name, rather than a standard spelling rule. Thus, tracing heritage could involve investigating many potential variants of the surname Kennely.
Famous people with the name Kennely
- Doug Kennely: American actor who appeared in Night Terrors and Pootie Tang
- Martin Kennely: American stuntman who performed stunts in Dark Secret Place
- Challee Kennely: American actress known for her appearances in JAG and ER
- Sean Kennely: Canadian voice actor who has provided voices in Pokémon, The Simpsons, and Cartoon Network shows
- Michael Kennely: English actor who appeared in ITV's, The Coroner
- Steve Kennely: Norwegian composer who has credits in films such as Inside and Zombie Films
- Ruben Kennely: Canadian singer, songwriter, and producer known for his singles "Love Again" and "See Through"
- Sarah Kennely: American contemporary folk singer
- Sean Kennely: American poet who appeared in the debut collection "Muse of Glass."
- Danny Kennely: Irish television producer and director who worked on shows such as The Tudors and Primeval.