Surname Neelly - Meaning and Origin

Neelly: What does the surname Neelly mean?

The surname Neelly is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic word "naoimh," meaning holy or sacred, and the Old English word "leah," meaning a meadow or clearing in the woods. So, Neelly could be interpreted as "holy meadow" or "sacred clearing." This surname is often found in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and the United States. Like many European surnames, it was likely originally a descriptive name or geographical identifier. It's important to remember that surname meanings can vary greatly, as they often emerged independently in different regions and cultures. Therefore, this interpretation of the name Neelly is one of several potential meanings, usually the most accepted one.

Neelly: Where does the name Neelly come from?

The last name Neelly is primarily common around the Southeastern United States. It is most common across Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee, but can also be found in North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana. During the 1880s, the Neelly surname was the 6,192nd most common name in the United States.

The surname was first found in the Isle of Man, in the UK, and it is believed to be a variation of the Irish surname O'Neely. Another potential origin of the Neelly surname is from the O'Neill Irish surname, as many Irish people immigrated to the US during the 19th century.

The Neelly family can trace their roots to a Thomas Neelly who is believed to have lived in Ireland during the 16th century. He moved to America and eventually settled in Williamson County, Tennessee. The Neelly family in America has grown from there over the generations, with some Neelly's settling in other parts of the US.

Today there are still plenty of Neelly's living in the Southeast with the most common locations including: Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, and Tennessee.

Variations of the surname Neelly

The surname Neelly is derived from the Gaelic and Irish name Ó Niall, which literally translates to "descendant of Niall". This surname was originally given to the sons of Niall of the Nine Hostages, an Irish king from the 5th century. One spelling of this surname is Neely, and this is the most common variant. Others include O'Neely, Nielly, Neile, Neelye, Nealy, Neallah, Neilley, Neillay, Nelley, or O'Nilley.

Variations of this surname developed as families immigrated and settled in different parts of the English-speaking world. In Scotland, the spelling O'Neilley or O'Nalley is often seen, and in the United States, the spelling Nealley or Nelli is more common. In Australia, the surname is often spelled Nally or Naly, while in Canada, it is usually spelled Neelye.

In addition, there are numerous variant and uncommon spellings that are derived from the original Ó Niall name. These include Nial, Nihill, Nihell, Nyhal, Ninelly, Neyly, Neally, Neilly, Neel, Neelie, Neelyy, Nellie, and Nillie. Furthermore, some variants of this surname include Naill, Nal, Nail, Neal, Nayl, Neall, Neel, Naille, Nuall, and Nuhill.

Overall, the surname Neelly is generally viewed as a Hiberno-Norman version of the Irish name Ó Niall, which translates to "descendant of Niall". This surname has numerous variants and spellings, both popular and uncommon, which are most easily found in countries where families of the name have immigrated and resettled.

Famous people with the name Neelly

• Bob Neely: Major League Baseball umpire who has been on the field since 2003.
• Tyler Neely: Professional American football player who was a tight end for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2015 to 2017.
• Bill Neely: BBC Chief International Correspondent, present since late 1990s.
• Bryan Neely: Former NFL player who played Wide Receiver for the San Diego Chargers, Cincinnati Bengals and San Francisco 49ers.
• Jim Neely: Jazz saxophonist, best known as part of the Memphis Neelys jazz group.
• Emmett Neely: Actor appearing in movies and television since the 1990s.
• Reginald Neely: Character actor in film and television with credits dating back to 1996.
• Charlie Neely: Award-winning bluegrass fiddler who was inducted into the Bluegrass Hall of Fame in 1982.
• John Neely: Official in the U.S. Navy at the turn of the 20th century.
• John Neely Jr.: American football player who played college football at Tulane University in the mid-1990s.

Other surnames

Neell