Surname Reilly - Meaning and Origin

The Emotional Odyssey with iGENEA DNA Testing: Re-envisioning the Surname 'Reilly'

Expanding on an insightful and emotional journey with iGENEA DNA testing, the author discusses how the testing has unfolded unexpected lineages, stirring newfound narratives around the family surname 'Reilly'.

W. Reilly

Reilly: What does the surname Reilly mean?

Reilly is a common Irish surname derived from the Gaelic O'Raghailligh, which means "descendant of Raghallach". This personal name, Raghallach, can be further broken down into two parts: "ragh" meaning 'race' and "allach" meaning 'valiant' or 'brave', thereby denoting characteristics such as valor, bravery, and strength. Historically, the O'Reilly clan were a powerful force in Ireland, particularly in County Cavan, which was previously known as East Breifne or Breffny O'Reilly. Over the years, due to Anglicization, the prefix 'O' was often dropped, turning O'Reilly into just Reilly. It must be noted that variations of this surname exist and could include Riley, O'Riley, and O'Reilly. Despite the variations, the core meaning pertaining to valor and bravery remains the same.

Reilly: Where does the name Reilly come from?

The last name Reilly is quite widespread throughout the world. In the United States, the 2010 census reported that it was the 93rd-most common surname. It was most prevalent in the states of Maryland, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania, but it is found in almost every state. In Ireland, it's the 22nd-most common surname and is strongly associated with County Cavan. It has also become very popular in Australia, where it is the 34th-most common name, with the largest numbers being found in the states of New South Wales and Queensland.

The Reilly name is also found in England, Canada, Scotland, and other parts of Ireland. It is even listed as the 231st most frequent surname in Germany. Wherever the name is found, it is often associated with the Irish heritage. This is especially evidenced by the Reilly tartan, which is worn by countless people of Irish descent today.

In the United States, where the largest population of individuals with the Reilly surname are from, it is also common to find an abundance of Reilly-inspired names such as Riley, Reilly-Lee, and Rieley. Due to its global popularity, the Reilly surname is available as a translated version in numerous languages and cultures. All of these point to the power and longevity of the Reilly last name.

Variations of the surname Reilly

Reilly is a variation of the Irish surname O'Reilly, which is derived from Ó Raghallaigh. This is an old Irish Gaelic name meaning “descendants of Raghallach” or “one who rules with prudence.” Reilly is related to many other surnames like Raley, Raleigh, Rawley, and Rail. It is also the Anglicized form of the surname Ó Raghallaigh, which has more common modern versions such as Rily, O'Rilley, O'Riley, Riely, Reilly, O'Reilly, Riley, Reiley, Reilly, Reillie, Raely, and Reily.

The Reilly surname originated in the fourteenth century, when members of the Celtic O'Reilly clans established themselves in modern-day County Cavan. In the 1400s, it spread to other parts of Ireland, including County Meath, County Longford, County Kildare, County Tipperary, and County Westmeath.

In the 1800s, members of the O'Reilly clans emigrated from Ireland to the United States, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. They brought with them the Reilly surname, as well as a variety of other surnames from their home country.

Many Irish families adopted surnames related to Reilly, such as Riley, Reed, Riley, Ray, Reade, Read, Reems, Reighley, Reighly, Reilley, Reill, Reily, Reiley, Relph, Roley, Rile, and Rill. There are also those who have adapted non-Irish versions of the Reilly surname, such as Railey or Railie.

Today, Reilly is a common surname all over the world. In the United States alone, there are an estimated 200,000 individuals with the Reilly surname, making it one of the most common Irish names in the country.

Famous people with the name Reilly

• Kevin Reilly: film producer and ex-president of TNT, TBS, and TruTV.
• Nicky Reilly: lone suicide bomber who attempted to detonate several explosive devices inside an Exeter restaurant in 2008, although no one was hurt in the incident.
• John C. Reilly: American actor, comedian, singer, and producer.
• Reilly Smith: Canadian professional ice hockey player who currently plays for the Vegas Golden Knights of the National Hockey League (NHL).
• Kellan Reilly: Actor who is known for his roles in The 100, Unreal, and Black-ish.
• Zack Reilly: Poker player, entrepreneur, advisor, and CEO.
• B. J. Reilly: Author, columnist, and entrepreneur who is known for his books on emotional intelligence, organizational development, and leadership.
• Yari De le Reilly: International model and influencer who is best known for her glamorous life pics, lifestyle posts, and fashion advice.
• Ed Reilly: Head football coach for the University of Florida Gators.
• Bryanna Reilly: Professional stunt performer, actress, model, and fight choreographer who is known for her work in television and film.

Other surnames

Reilley