Surname Meneely - Meaning and Origin
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Meneely: What does the surname Meneely mean?
The surname Meneely is of Irish origin and is likely derived from the surname Mulaney, which is an old Gaelic term meaning “servant” or “follower of the church”. As such, this name would indicate a family that was spiritually inclined and had strong ties to their faith. Meneely is most common in Northern Ireland, but can be found in other parts of the world as well.
The Meneely surname was most likely adopted as a result of Irish migration during the late 16th and early 17th centuries. This period saw many Irish families flee the country to escape political and religious unrest caused by the Penal Laws. These laws greatly restricted the rights of Irish Catholics, stripping them of their land, religious freedoms, and political influence. In reaction to these laws, thousands of Irish Catholics fled to the relative safety of Great Britain and North America. While most of these Irish immigrants assimilated into society, some kept their traditional names like Meneely, preserving the history and culture of their ancestors.
Today, the Meneely surname has largely lost its Irish roots and is used by people of other ethnic backgrounds. However, this unique surname still exists today, a testament to the resiliency of the Irish people.
Order DNA origin analysisMeneely: Where does the name Meneely come from?
Meneely is a common last name found today in the United States and Canada. It is especially prominent in the Northeastern regions of the United States. In Pennsylvania, the most commonly reported Meneely families live in major cities such as Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. In New Jersey, some Meneely families can be traced back to the northern and central parts of the state.
In New York State, Meneely is found in western, central, eastern, and upstate areas. In the northeast, some of the larger cities such as Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, and Albany are home to Meneely families. In Massachusetts, many Meneely families can be found in Essex County, Worcester County, and Plymouth County. In Connecticut, some of the larger and more well-known cities such as Bridgeport and Stamford have Meneely families.
Meneely is also a common name throughout Canada. Some of the most prominent Meneely families are found in the provinces of Ontario, British Columbia, and Quebec. In Ontario, Meneely can be found in cities like Toronto, Hamilton, and Ottawa. In British Columbia, the name is most commonly found in and around the cities of Vancouver and Victoria. In Quebec, Meneely is most often associated with the major city of Montreal.
Overall, Meneely is a widely distributed name in modern day North America. It is a continuation of the Irish-American culture found in many parts of the United States and Canada, and its current spread is a testament to its popularity even in the 21st century.
Variations of the surname Meneely
The surname Meneely is an English variant of the Irish surname spelled Minnely or Minnelly and is ultimately derived from the Gaelic name Mac an Fhilidh or Mac an Fhiolaidh. The variant spellings of the surname Meneely include Minnelly, Minnely, Minelly, Minelley, Minelay, Mineally, Minealy, Menely, Minelie, Meneley, Mynely, Mynelly, Mynlley, Minney, Mennalley, Mennelly, Mincille, Minely, Minello and Moodley.
The Irish surname is primarily found in the counties of Ulster particularly Tyrone, Monaghan and Fermanagh as well as parts of Donegal. The surname belongs to the Uí Néill dynasties (O’Neill’s) that ruled in these regions in ancient times and were descended from High Kings of Ireland. Records of the surname can be traced back to Nas de Meynell in 1273.
The name Minnely is derived from the descriptive nickname of Filidh which is pronounced 'Fill-yee' and is modern Irish Gaelic for 'poet, fili'. 'Mac an Fhilidh' is literally meaning 'son of the poet'. Variants of the surname have also been adopted into other countries particularly Scotland, America and Canada. In Scotland, the surname is known as Menzie and in America as Maneely, Menely and Manley. In Canada, the spelling of Minnelly and Minany can be found in the region of Prince Edward Island.
The spellings of the surname are plentiful, however, all are linked to the same origin and are variations of Mac an Fhilidh or Mac an Fhiolaidh.
Famous people with the name Meneely
- Chris Meneely: professional race car driver and competitor in the NASCAR Cup Series
- Ro Meneely: American actor known for his roles on the sitcom My Name is Earl and NBC's Manifest
- Paige Meneely: American professional figure skater
- Warren Meneely: American singer, songwriter and guitarist
- Tim Meneely: American theater, movie and television actor
- Henry Meneely: American actor known for his roles in movies such as Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho
- Richard Meneely: American sculptor and woodcarver
- Nataliya Meneely: Ukrainian-Japanese figure skater
- Alexander Meneely: Retired United States Air Force Major General
- William Meneely: American architect and builder who was known for designing and building churches and buildings in upstate New York