Surname Kilkelly - Meaning and Origin
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Kilkelly: What does the surname Kilkelly mean?
Kilkelly is an Irish surname believed to have originated from County Mayo in Ireland. The name is derived from the Irish Gaelic words ‘cill’ and ‘ceallaigh’ which mean ‘church’ and ‘pledge’ respectively. Thus, the literal translation of the name is ‘pledge of the church’.
The Kilkelly family first settled in the area of Kilkelly in 1612 and the Kilkelly name was first recorded in a deed of sale of the townland in 1643. In the late 18th and 19th centuries, the Kilkellys emigrated from Ireland to America and many other countries around the world.
Today the Kilkelly name remains a strong Irish surname with many families proudly carrying on their Irish heritage. The name is a reminder of the Kilkellys’ strong religious background and commitment to their faith, as well as their commitment to their new homes and countries.
The Kilkelly name is also associated with a strong sense of community. The original Kilkelly townland still exists as a centre of community for families who trace their heritage back to the Kilkellys in Ireland. The Kilkelly family ethos and spirit of community still lives on today wherever Kilkelly families are found.
Order DNA origin analysisKilkelly: Where does the name Kilkelly come from?
The last name Kilkelly is most commonly found in Ireland and amongst people of Irish descent in places with large Irish immigrant populations, such as the United States and the United Kingdom. The name dates back to early Medieval Gaelic times, and may have originated from either an anglicization of the old Irish 'O'Cill Eallaigh' (meaning descendant of the follower of the nobleman or prince) or 'Mac Giolla Cheallaigh' (meaning son of the devotee of the church).
Kilkelly is an especially popular name in the West of Ireland, in areas such as counties Mayo, Galway, Roscommon, and Leitrim. Additionally, the name is found in Clare, Sligo, and Cork. In recent times, many people of the Kilkelly name have emigrated to other countries in search of a better life - again bringing the name with them and making it more common in various places around the world.
In the US, Kilkelly is on estimated to be on approximately 3,500 people, making it one of the 250 most common surnames in the country. Outside of the US and Ireland, the name is also found in Australia, Canada, and England - however, there is not nearly as high of a concentration of the name in these places as in the US and Ireland.
Regardless of its prevalence in certain countries, the legacy of the name Kilkelly continues to live on in Irish culture and its use in the Irish diaspora.
Variations of the surname Kilkelly
The surname Kilkelly is of Irish origins and is derived from the old Irish family name Mac an Uileagail, meaning "son of the valorous one". Variants of the surname include Kilcally, Kilcaley, Killealy, Kilkeally, Killically, and Kilkelly.
Spelling variations for the surname include Macilcalie, Macilcalleigh, Mackelally, MacilKeally, Makealy, MacCalleigh, McCally, McKelley, McCalley, MacKealy, Mckely, and Macilkelly. Additionally, all of these spellings may be found with the Mc and Mac prefixes.
Surnames that are associated with or derived from Kilkelly include Kealy, Quill, Kilkelly, Cully, McCully, Colly, Kelaher, Kelahey, Kelie, Kelleher, Kellah, Keal, Killah, and Celly. These associated surnames are often found clustered together in Irish records, indicating they have a common origin.
In conclusion, the surname Kilkelly has a variety of different spellings and surnames associated with it, with many spelling variations known to exist that reflect regional and linguistic influences.
Famous people with the name Kilkelly
- Vikki Kilkelly: Irish news and media presenter, best known for her work on TV3 and RTÉ.
- Richie Kilkelly: Irish musician, formerly of the rock group Virginia Wolf.
- Mary Kilkelly: Irish actress, best known for her stage roles at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin.
- Sarah Kilkelly: Irish writer and journalist, whose work has been published in The Irish Times.
- Eamonn Kilkelly: Irish cricketer who has played for Ireland since 2008.
- Mollie Kilkelly: Irish folk singer and storyteller, known for her extraordinary renditions of traditional Irish folk songs.
- Siobhan Kilkelly: Irish footballer who currently plays for the Irish National Team.
- Padraig Kilkelly: Irish journalist and political commentator, best known for his work on the RTÉ Late Late Show.
- Ryan Kilkelly: Irish actor and improviser, best known for his work on shows such as Will & Grace and The Drew Carey Show.
- David Kilkelly: Irish football manager, who is currently managing the Irish club Cork City.